For those that did not hear The Hope Conspiracy's recent teaser 7" Hang Your Cross (which was later released as a CD and in digital format), now is your chance. Let me just say, WOW! I figured that the new full-length, Death Knows Your Name, would be good (this opinion was solely based off of the quality of said 7"), and it is. I am not sure if the sound benefited from the reintroduction of founding guitarist Neeraj Kane (also of The Suicide File) or if the addition of former American Nightmare/Bars/Give Up the Ghost guitarist Tim Cossar made the impact. Either way, the album is great.
Beginning with a quiet guitar piece, "They Know Not" pronounces the album as begun when vocalist Kevin Baker starts wailing. It is a powerful way to open Death Knows Your Name with a slower tempo that feels urgent and impassioned. It gives way to "Deadtown Nothing" which is one of the hold over tracks from the Hang Your Cross 7". The scorching "A Darkness in the Light" comes next with its short bursts of instrumentation that is held down by the vocals. It is over and done very quickly and leaves an impression with noisy guitars and herky-jerky rhythmic moments.
"Animal Farm" is striking. A simple music arrangement with great lyrics:
Dread the whore / Dread the Consequence / The poor me's / Fall to their knees / Beg to the king / For our lives to be spared / It's too late / The animals / Had their taste.
It provocatively evokes a vivid image in one's mind. "Curse of the Oil Snakes" also contains a great set of lyrics:
Load the guns of war / Say goodbye / To all your filthy looters / Greed Machine / On the loose / To make it free / Another enemy / Another perfect day.
"Hang Your Cross" is still a great song. The teaser for this album is found smack dab in the middle of this full-length. No matter what, the song still holds its power and vocal invective. It is an excellent centerpiece and keeps the flow of the Death Knows Your Name. "Suicide Design" is slower paced and has a definite rock and roll feel to it. It works really well and is the type of track that grows on you with repeated listens. "So Many Pigs So Few Bullets" is real noisy. It gives the song a dirty and gritty feel. The squealing guitars create a shrill effect that grabs the listener's attention. "Sadistic Sacred Whore" is a powerful song. It is easily the longest track on the record, but that does not detract from its angry mood. With guest vocals and lyrics provided by Dwid Hellion of Integrity infamy, the song beats its disgust and malice into your conscious. "Stolen Days" closes out the album with a song that has an almost overbearing feel of regret. It is an incredibly effective musical arrangement and matches the vocal delivery just about perfectly.
The Hope Conspiracy create a vicious atmosphere and angry mood with Death Knows Your Name. It is filled to the brim with memorable lyrics, catchy guitar hooks, and enough brute force to keep people listening and salivating to see this record preformed live. This is a highly recommended album even if you never dug The Hope Conspiracy before this album. If you claim to like hardcore, this record is for you.
