Before Hopesfall signed to Trustkill and before A Types and Magnetic North, Hopesfall was really, REALLY good. The first time I heard Frailty of Words I wasn't super impressed until The Broken Heart of Traitor came on. The song kindled an instant love for Hopesfall. And then they released No Wings to Speak Of. 4 songs of perfection.
While Trustkill later rereleased the album when they signed Hopesfall, No Wings was originally released on Takehold Records (The greatest christian indie label ever! Seriously, these guys signed Underoath, TwoThiryEight, Few Left Standing). No Wings To Speak Of is the first time I heard the term screamo used (although in a different context then it's used today). It's a furiously passionate hardcore record that really holds the true essence of what emo used to be.
The opening track, Open Hands to The Winds, kicks off with a vengeance. A stealler guitar riffs, right into Doug's piercing scream. A minute in, the guitar line cuts in with a sweet melody the cuts the furry so nicely, the song takes on a new direction and the passion comes oozing through your stereo. When the emo breakdown comes into the song it takes you off guard at first but the guitar work is so nice that you find yourself just enjoying the riff. Your enjoyment is rudely taken away when the bands rips right back into the song.
April Left With Silence is really where the records takes flight. A clean vocals and almost subdued intro are a different take for Hopesfall, but then the music kicks it up and Doug comes in screaming "Silence was the last word we spoke. It filled the air heavy with forevers, and the failing smells of yesterday." As the song moves forward you forget about the intro being so emo because the raw passion coming through your speakers, the mix of really great metal riffs intertwined with the sweet picking and simple melodies really paint the song nicely as it ends with Doug screaming silence.
The End of an Era is one of the greatest guitar songs ever. Ryan Parrish and Joshua Brigham's guitar play was so perfect and fitting at every moment that even to this day I'm captivated by their work. As the furry gives way to the breakdown, you're lost in the song. A guitar work has you entranced in it's beauty that when the vocals come back in, the emotion be screamed is so much more significant and powerful then just a straight forward hardcore song.
The Far Pavilions closes the ep out and it's intro is a fake setup to a song that doesn't kick in, as Doug's vocals kick you in the gut when he screams "How could i endure one more sunrise in this cold and unfamiliar place?" Again the guitar work is so beautiful and transforming and gives so many layers and dimensions to the songs. You never know where it's going next. The songs ending leaves you feeling almost helpless as the lyrics go "So here i stand on this hill alone, never turning back, in hopes that the past will fade."
While Hopesfall did give us one more emocore styled record, The Satellite Years didn't have anywhere near the passion that No Wings To Speak Of had. I think part of the reason Jay and the band moved away from that style of music is because the new members were never going to touch No Wings To Speak Of. Doug was no longer on vocals, Jay kicked Ryan out of the band after The Satellite Years sessions and Hopesfall was never the same.
Hopesfall doesn't get the credit or recognition they deserve and it's sad. No Wings to Speak is a gem.
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