Band : American Hollow
Album title : Whisper Campaign
Label : Own release
Distributor : /
Release date : 14/05/2010
Release : CD

This Modern Progressive Rock foursome (comprised of singer Jameson, guitarist Kyle Mullikin, bassist/ keyboardist Nathan Gilbert, and drummer Chronos), originally formed amidst the Appalachian foothills in Kentucky during 2001, where the instrumentalists met each other at college in Kentucky. Playing extensively throughout their region, the chaps build up a good reputation with their energetic live shows and creative compositions. Over time, they emigrated to Utah's Salt Lake City, in search of a better music scene and better life. In 2008 they were joined by new singer Jameson, himself from Mississippi.

The new unit eventually recorded their debut album Whisper Campaign, and seen as it was released almost a year ago, you can gather it already got quite a bit of feedback from websites in the band's area of influence. Through sheer luck, our editor-in-chief came across this band, contacted 'em, and as a result I'm now able to listen to and review this truly exquisite album! Actually, I've been wrecking my brain for the appropriate way to describe the band's music, and I've had to revert to this silly trick, for the band actually describes itself as “American Hollow = the love child of Pink Floyd and Tool. Other influences: Incubus, Porcupine Tree...”...and, well, AH sure has elements from both the atmospherics of Pink Floyd and the Alternative Metal aspects of Tool, which bring in the reminiscences to Incubus and Porcupine Tree...but the reminiscences are never driven to the point of becoming comparison points, and I would say AH sure built a sound quite their own! I'm tempted to call Whisper Campaign a concept album, because album opener “Terranoia” and closer (both in essence instrumentals) “Terrannoyed” both make use of the same opening arpeggios and “radio announcer” (whom also comes in at the end of second song “Stale Of Decay”), and in between you've got songs titled “Variable”, “Constant” and “Gravity” which seem to be part of a logical story line. I'm not sure though, where the 13-minute “Prizards” (check the video for that one in the media section of (www.) americanhollowband.com, alongside several other videos, many of which recorded live) fits into that story (not with the video for it in mind, and there's also no lyrics in the booklet, which certainly make things somewhat tougher!).

Anyway, at the moment the band is working on a new EP (work for which was pushed back due to 2 songs written for it not fitting in the whole) which might well grow out to a full-length...but in the meantime there's still time to discover the band's debut album, songs off which can be found posted at the band's own website (check above) and at (www.) myspace.com/americanhollow (the band also has pages at facebook, twitter, and YouTube). If you're into Progressive Rock/ Metal, you simply gotta do yourself the favor of picking up the album either digitally from iTunes, or physically from cdbaby.com). I'm goin' as far as to add Whisper Campaign to my 2010 Year-lists! Yeah baby! I'm really looking forward with eager anticipation to what this band releases next!

98/100

Tony.