Sunday, April 19, 2009

Hinder - Take It To The Limit


Hinder has returned with Take It To The Limit, the follow up disc to their smash debut Extreme Behavior, and they are still taking it to the extreme. With even more raunchy themes of drinking too much, hanging out with dirty women, living life in excess, and even the occasional pang of heartache, Hinder’s second disc picks up right where their first one left off. Is Take It To The Limit worth the investment? Let’s spin the disc and find out.

Austin Winkler sounds incredible on this record, perhaps better than on their debut. I know that some listeners have issues with his raspy vocal style, but that’s what makes him unique. Winkler is an original brand and his vocals fit in well with the rest of the band’s musical style.

The twin guitar attack of Joe Garvey and Mark King is a grand assault on the senses. For the slower tunes, there is an acoustic/electric double attack, and for the heavier songs, it’s a blistering, all out domination of the ear drums. With this much talent in one lineup, it’s no wonder that this band is on top of the record charts, the airwaves, and landing spots on major tours.

Take It To The Limit opens with the lead single Use Me, which continues the theme of Extreme Behavior, raunchy women doing dirty deeds. Use Me is an in your face rocker that travels back to the older days of rock and roll (think mid-80s) and is just a hard rocking party tune.

Notable ballads (yes there are more than one) on this disc include Last Kiss Goodbye, Without You, and The Best Is Yet To Come.

Last Kiss Goodbye is another song of pain and anguish about being left behind by a woman who was having a long term affair. Without You picks up right where Lips of an Angel (from Extreme Behavior) left off musically. Lyrically, it could be the prequel to Lips of an Angel as the song touches on being better off without you and living life a little more every day when you’re (in this case a girl, of course) not around.

The Best Is Yet To Come is a song of remembrance and the stupid things we do as horny high schoolers. It reminds me a lot about my youthful days.

On the heavier side of the disc, there is the aforementioned Use Me, along with other notables Take It To The Limit, which guests none other than Mick Mars of Motley Crue on guitar, Up All Night, which is a party song about, what else, staying up all night and partying, and what I consider the strongest song on the disc, Lost In The Sun.

Lost In The Sun is a fast ripper that takes over and forces a foot tapping, rhythm feeling, sing along. Try all you want to escape it, you can’t. It’s a song with a slow build, a rousing opening, and a chorus that has you hooked after first listen.

Overall, Hinder has delivered the goods once again, and their second disc is actually better than their debut (which is a hard feat to accomplish). Take It To The Limit is definitely worth the money, as it will get several spins and an extended life in the car CD player, especially during those long summer drives to nowhere.

Ryo’s Rating: 8 (out of 10).

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