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Hella

Hold Your Horse Is (2002)
5 Rue Christine

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Contributed by: bing_crosby
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on November 14th 2003

"WARNING: Hella is not for everyone. This album will change the way you view music forever."

Thus reads the sticker on the cover of Hold Your Horse Is the debut album from this amazingly talanted duo. Being comprised of Zach Hill on drums and Spencer Seim on guitar these two lay down some of the most spastic music around. I'm not talking spastic as in Converge ripping their throats out, I'm talking about a non-stop, indie-audio assault.

I'm not one hundred percent sure how to describe the actual music being played. Spencer apparently listens to nothing but Nintendo music and the first track is indeed Nintendo themed, being played with midi and electronic beats. His guitaring might be compared to an East Bay Ray-ish surf guitar on speed and PCP. Most times it sounds like he is playing two parts at once and that really helps to thicken the music out. Now you might be saying: "He probably is playing two guitar parts, you dumb ass. It is a studio." I have seen live videos of them and Spencer indeed plays every part from the album on one guitar and faster, you dumb ass. That might not seem like much to you right now, avid reader, but I'm sure once you hear Hella it will probably mean a lot.

The drumming. Oh, the drumming. This man is a machine, plain and simple. He plays non-stop fills, crazy double bass, cymbal work to rival whoever you think is best. His use of the kit will make your head spin. You will never view another drummer the same again. End of story.

While listening to Hella your first reaction will probably be similar to mine. "It's good, but there's no groove, no beat. I can't get into this and sometimes it just sounds like noise." If the guys in my band weren't so into this I probably wouldn't have given them much thought. It was definitely talented, but I was still listening to ...*shudder*....Pennywise and other punk so I didn't 'get it.' I'm glad I get it now.

If you're like me and becoming increasingly apathetic towards the state of punk music you might want to branch out. These guys would definitely be an eye and ear opener. I still listen to lots of punk, hardcore, emo, but I find too much of it to be boring, re-hashed bullshit. This is not boring or re-hashed in any sense of the word. This is fresh, alive. They have a new album coming out and from what I've heard it's the same style they've been doing only a little crazier. I hope you'll join me when I say: "Yeeeeaaaaa!!!"

RECOMMENDED TRACKS: Been a Long Time Cousin, Cafeteria Bananas and 1-800-Ghost Dance (but really they're all amazing, except 'the d. elkan' which is the Nintendo song. It's a fun listen but nothing you'll be rushing to hear over and over).

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istapledmyfoot (August 18, 2006)

this is the best album of all time.

Anonymous (November 30, 2003)

HeLLa is the greatest thing since sliced bread. the Brutally Handsome Gentlemen are also in this genre and are quite proficient. thee Dull Sound of Sharp Math When You Are Alive also tear things up like cheeze whiz on celery.

HeLLa. Dang.

501 (November 20, 2003)

It was so funny.... I lied.

Anonymous (November 20, 2003)

wow thats funny

Anonymous (November 20, 2003)

1/3log(2x 1) 1/2[log(x-4)-log(x^4-x^2-1)] =
log(2x 1)^1/3 1/2(log x-4/x^4-x^2-1)

log 3sqrt(2x 1)(sqrtx-4/x^4-x^2-1)

do your math. punk is getting you nowhere.

501 (November 19, 2003)

Hella.

Anonymous (November 19, 2003)

Hella is the RULE! lightning bolt,usa is a monster,dig shovel dig, all really good two-pieces.

Anonymous (November 17, 2003)

This review was good, but here's how I would make it better:

1. Is the picture on the cd real, or was it drawn.

2. Good drawing if it is!

3. If this was so good, then why isn't it in the new Blender?

4. Huh?

Anonymous (November 16, 2003)

Overrated! Not Good! Good with instruments, but not music!

Anonymous (November 16, 2003)

I'm not impressed, i think i much prefer bands with vocalists. Whilst i can appreciate the musicianship, i will never buy, watch, or listen to this band. except for the 2 mp2s i just got, which will now be deleted.

Anonymous (November 15, 2003)

hahahaha

Anonymous (November 15, 2003)

When Hella played here not so long ago kuci was trying to give away 2 pairs of tickets, but only 1 person called in throughout the rest of the show. It was sad.

Leandro (November 15, 2003)

saw them open for the locust....so good. both

Anonymous (November 15, 2003)

worst band name EVER!

Comic Book Guy

Greenvandal (November 15, 2003)

Huzzah for the minibosses!

If they play nintendo covers, then i say, "rock on hella, rock on"

Anonymous (November 15, 2003)

dude hella is indeed tha shiznit. but also check out lighting bolt, which is another insane two piece on load records out of providence. lightning bolt is only a bassist and a drummer, but dude, they bring the rock like nobody else. their live show is devastating. hella is technically more proficient, but i kind of enjoy lightning bolt's energy more. but anyway, both of these bands are at the top of the indie noise heap, and expect to hear lots of kids rippin on their style post haste. also check out the advantage men, which is the dude from hella's band that covers old 8 bit nintendo theme songs. it's pretty sweet, but for comparison's sake, check out the mini-bosses, another nintendo theme cover. they both do it amazingly.

greyicewater (November 15, 2003)

"No...you DID NOT just write that."

haha, sorry. i felt like being cheesy.

Anonymous (November 14, 2003)

the drummer only has one bass drum pedal...none of that double shit...amazing band

Anonymous (November 14, 2003)

from what I'm listening to, it's just coming off as just....noise.

DestroyPopRadio (November 14, 2003)

I've been a fan ever since hearing "been a long time cousin." They get their crazy math-rock-noise-fusion groove on. That sounded really lame, but I don't know how else to describe a band that sounds like them.

yellowtrash (November 14, 2003)

Hella rules. Too bad they opened for 18 Visions in Iowa City, otherwise I would have gone.

Anonymous (November 14, 2003)

"i love this band. hella good."

No...you DID NOT just write that.
-Janelle