Last Of The Misfit Heroes - Hope For The Hopeless
Album review by; DeeDee
The debut album from the London Post Punk outfit has been on the Band Camp shelf for just over a month now. So it’s about time I pulled my finger out and scribbled down my findings about ’Hope For The Hopeless’.
The Last Of The Misfit Heroes have only been in existence since April 2019, but in this brief time and with restrictions in place, they have managed to get under my skin and I can only applaud their determination and resilience in getting noticed by so many people. The 10 fold debut has 6 new numbers to make you gurgle with delight, along with the 4 tracks from the EP ‘Misfit Misplaced’ that was released last year. That was a superb introduction to the trio and it’s not surprising those songs also feature on the new album.
One thing about LOTMH songs is often the inclusion of some off the wall introduction, be it a scratchy effect, out take or just some nonsensical conversation, but if you look deeper they convey a meaning for that specific track. ‘Creating A Monster’ is no exception and although short it breaks the ice before we get underway. There’s a clear melody and far reaching vocals by Steve Catt, which describe how your mind can sometimes get the better of you. ‘Misfit Misplaced’ appears next and the bass of Andrew Jackman is the main precursor. You are caught off guard as the track continues because the semi punk chords attach themselves to a slightly eerie beat. It’s an adhering song, formally found on the same named EP; it grabs you with a lock hold. The next track ‘Pieces’ kicks off with more delicious low bass strings and a punch drunk rhythm. It sounds just as fresh as when I first heard it last year, it also raises awareness of how people struggle with personal battles. The amazing thing about this band is how they deliver such marvellous and catchy tunes that don’t fit in the normal box. A funny snippet of dialogue precedes ‘Dead Behind The Eyes’ which is a masterful creation. Fluid and graceful, it’s one of those songs that continues effortlessly, right to the last bar. ‘Pulling Punches’ is an anti political song and aimed at governments worldwide. It’s also one of my favourites on the album, I love the riff that jolts and snares you in its trap. ‘Demons’ is faster and meaner, with the accent on changing its pace. The guitar sucks up some chilled fret bashing, leaving a pleasant taste in your mouth.
‘When My Empire Falls’ stomps in with a thudding boot march, then the guitar picks up and the song gels with a decent little hook. Another stormer from the EP, it hasn’t lost any of its charm, the vocals are muzzled and hazy giving it a poetic feel and I kinda like the way it bumps along. ‘Bombs’ is much heavier; gosh there is so much diversity to this band. Pumping like grunge legends and having soulful lyrics, Christ there’s even a hint of early Sabbath in the chord changes. A tap dripping steadily is the intro to ‘As The Water Runs’, a very thought provoking track about how easy it is to become lost and unable to control your feelings. This is the ‘Ballad’ if you like, slow and dragging its heels, but the message in the words addresses issues of today, so many of us feel like we are being dragged down, there’s so much pressure on us especially at the moment. Rock and Roll strumming to finish, with the upbeat ‘Wake Up Call’ clashing vibes of fast words and smoothing guitar licks, make it one of the bands finest and it’s nice to end on a more positive note.
The Last Of The Misfit Heroes, have a way of getting you to take notice of the problems with society in this day and age. This album addresses a lot of issues and the band manage to get their message across quite easily and they still capture your senses with their amazing sound, the unique and original will always prevail.
All tracks were recorded, engineered and produced by Dan Lucas at Anchor Baby Studios, Kent, UK. Except 'Wake Up Call' which was recorded at Scream Studios, Croydon, UK. All tracks mastered by Charlie Francis at Synergy Mastering, Cardiff.
4.5/5
Last of the Misfit Heroes are;
Steve Catt - Guitar/Lead vocals
Andrew Jackman - Bass/Backing vocals
Chris Catt - Drums
'Hope for the Hopeless' has now been released on streaming platforms, see Amazon, Spotify, iTunes.
It is also still available to download for £1 from the BandCamp site;
https://lastofthemisfitheroes.bandcamp.com/
A documentary about the band entitled "Creating a Misfit" is set for release in later this month. This documents how the band came together and how music has helped the band overcome personal issues.
To learn more and keep up to date with the band visit their Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/lastofthemisfitheroes
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