CD Review: Hell or Highwater – “Vista” (Spinefarm Records)
Hell or Highwater play to their strengths on their
sophomore album Vista, an album
peppered with bombastic alt-rock led by the warming tones of Atreyu drummer
Brandon Saller. Opener “Colors” is all things anthemtic, the arena-ready “Walk
Out in the Rain” is truly inescapable, “Don’t Hate Me” has all the makings of a
rock radio hit and the cocksure bravado of “I Want It All” stands out late in
the game. Vista isn’t without its
blemishes however; though a portion of those imperfections stem from the
album’s willingness to take more than a few sonic chances (the Queens of the
Stone Age-esque “Lighter Than Air” sounds nothing like the rest of the album, “Dame”
introduces subtle horns and an entirely different attitude, Saller returns to
his folksy solo roots as he breaks out the falsetto on “Pieces,” closer
“Revolution” sounds closer to something you’d expect from Imagine Dragons). With
Vista, Hell or Highwater do what all
bands should on their second album – effectively build upon their debut, which
Saller and the gang do a pretty damn fine job of here.
Grade: B
Go Download: “I Want It All”
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