Take It to the Limit

Hinder rises to a completely different level

Despite that the 2005’s debut album Extreme Behavior of a young American band Hinder received quite cold critic reviews it proved to be quite commercially successful. Formed in 2001 by front man Austin Winkler, the team plays classic rock with the elements of alternative, punk and heavy metal and gives welcomed performances both independently and as a warm-up act of other rock singes. This year Hinder’s sophomore effort is released and is titled Take It To The Limit. The new record produced by Brian Howes is similar to the debut album in many aspects: there are the same stadium perfect loud mid-tempo rock compositions with vivid choruses, on which vocalist Winkler certainly plays the leading role. Yet Take It To The Limit offers a somewhat heavier and tough sounding which in fact could be predicted from the debut work where the hints of such a turn were but obvious. Now that all the potentials are realized Hinder rises to a completely different level.

Various songs’ themes on Take It to the Limit

The songs’ themes on Take It To The Limit vary from consumerism criticizing to joy of living, from love to unserious bachelor parties. The example of the latter is the funny first single Use Me whose title speaks for itself. Austin’s powerful vocals, amazing guitar riffs and the splendid work of the drummer knocking out a simple and distinct rhythm add to the song’s atmosphere. Track Loaded & Alone tells that material values and especially money are far from the most important in life while ballad Last Kiss Goodbye is remarkable for a romantic text which could be hardly expected after the opening track. Nevertheless the guys practically return to it on another joyful number Up All Night, whereas the second single, a beautiful ballad about a failed relationship Without You proves to be one of the best moments of the record due to a memorable tune and Austin’s most emotional singing. The title track performed with Mick Mars is another example of amazing rock from Hinder with absolutely unimaginable guitars and a philosophic song The Best Is Yet To Come tells that one should not regret about anything in life and believe in a better future. The darkest track on the album is probably Heaven Sent with fatalistic lyrics and a desperate chorus you are sure to sing along after the very first listening already and the album closer is another quite romantic and sad ballad Far From Home with a wonderful tune, heartfelt singing and a faultless arrangement.

Its own debut left far behind

Hinder is a great example of how one talented musician’s naked enthusiasm can serve a base for a really interesting team. Austin Winkler has managed to select guitarists and drummer suitable for his indeed impressive vocals with a nice slight huskiness. If we compare the collective’s two albums then the debut can rather be called a rehearsal, even the dress one, and the second work is already the performance itself in which every actor has played his part in a flawless way. You will not find a failure among the 11 songs on Take It To The Limit although some of them can be united by rather similar sounding but they are different with their tunes. These are the heaviest rock compositions that do not have any significant message in them except for hedonistic joy of living. Yet the beautiful ballads of which there are quite a number on Take It To The Limit prove to be a perfect ground for Hinder to demonstrate all its abilities and in particular for Winkler as a songwriter. No doubt the band has made a grand step forward outdoing itself and leaving its own debut far behind.