As with anything, though, there’s good and bad. Simply by dint of the imprint’s expansiveness there’re bound to be a few efforts that folks either don’t like or don’t get. But for the most part, while the music isn’t always interrelated, acts adhere to a vision that eschews traditions granting acts entrance to other labels.
So, Hank IV’s III winds up being a bit confusing.
Firstly, no this act has nothing to do with Hank Williams and his expansive clan. Secondly, yes, it’s caused a few flair ups, but probably more from confused would-be fans than from lawyers and the like, ‘cause really, there’s no problem to be had. Either way, Hank IV doesn’t really compare to anything else that Siltbreeze has dealt with in the past.
There is a pervasive punk cum hard rock thing at work over III’s eight tracks and twenty five minutes. And while most folks would assume that the hardrock just referenced would have something to do with seventies weirdoes, it doesn’t.
“SFU” is a slowed down, stop and go Sex Pistols tune appropriated for the simple fact that rhythmically, III doesn’t diverge to much from staid understandings of aggressive rock. With that proffered, “SFU” probably winds up being one of the more rewarding efforts her, in part, due to the relatively melodic chorus.
Coming closest to the general perception of what punk could and should be, “Security System” ends up being just a straight forward rock song. But added in are some snarled vocals making the track a bit more aggressive and nasty than anything represented over the rest of the album.
Criticism of the disc – mine or otherwise – seems to stem from the fact that these guys don’t sound like Tyvek or whatever else is supposed to currently represent the Siltbreeze landscape. But really, the problem with Hank IV’s music isn’t it’s inability to become something it’s not – it’s just that what it is really doesn’t do too much in the way of entertainment. Yeah, “Patient Zero” has its moments while the band turns in a love letter to drugs, but if that’s the best that can be said about the whole thing, it might not be worth investigating.