Hell Is For Heroes The Neon Handshake Release Date: February 3, 2003 Label: EMI Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. This disc opens BIG. Hell Is For Heroes is a band that's flown under the radar strangely enough. In this age of screamo and hardcore, and melody within all that, with all the people these days looking for honest, creative and eloquent music, it's odd that not many folks (at least in North America - the band hails from the UK) have seemed to pick up on them. Pounding guitars, a distinctive, emotionally quivering voice, moments of stilled music, weird wordy metaphors, chiming sounds, fabulous harmonies, and of course, yelling. Kicks ass. The first tune, "Five Kids Go," is pretty melodic. Powerful, but straightforward. But the next song, "Out Of Sight," throws that out the damn window. A small riff gives way to a solid, leaping verse with a huge, screaming vocal track over it. The choruses calm down, and then we're launched right back into the fray. Basically, whether it's with an unexpected split in the music, a shift in style, or a huge yell, there's little surprises all over this album. I picked this disc up on a whim because the cover looked neat and the name intrigued me. Sometimes judging a book (CD) by its cover really is the best way. You just never know. The guitars are particularly striking all over this disc. Crunchy and loud, memorable and moveable riffs. Certainly, one feels like leaping about during tracks like "I Can Climb Mountains" (a triumphant song indeed, great lyrics in here) and "You Drove Me To It." Someone get me a microphone stand to smash! It's really aggressive music, yet with that lyrically gentle overtone that's a characteristic of this genre. These guys care. Oh yes. Anyhow, this one is a bit of a black sheep pick again, as it's not very new, but I feel it's an important and relevant record for people to be aware of in the current musical climate. Lyric Of Choice : I can swallow failure just to learn; and I can build bridges from what you burn. Song Of Choice : Oooh don't make me choose! Gotta go with "I Can Climb Mountains," with "You Drove Me To It" coming in close second. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Hell Is For Heroes website Published : April 22, 2004.