A return to the halcyon days of rock.
Released by: Metalville / Rough Trade
Release Date: Out Now!
Genre: Classic Rock
Links: https://hound-hardrock.bandcamp.com
Line Up:
Wanja Neite: vocals
Nando Grujic: guitar
Jonas Gehlen: organ
Yannick Aderb: bass
John Senft: drums
Tracklist:
- Not So Long Ago
- Jim Vance
- The Perilous Realm
- Cursed Place
- Thoughts & Prayers
- Not At All
- The Poacher
- The Secret Commonwealth
- Grit
- Flesh & Bone
- Settle Your Scores
- Awful Fellow
Known for their tireless touring and amazing live performances since 2014, Hound is comprised of musicians from Hildesheim and Hannover who have planted their altar firmly at the feet of classic, psychedelic, and blues rock. With songs driven by powerful guitar riffs, grungy Hammond organ, progressive basslines, and energetic drums, this German quintet are here to hit you with all they’ve got. Clearly influenced by the likes of Deep Purple, The Doors, Uriah Heep, Thin Lizzy, Led Zeppelin, and even perhaps a bit of classic Rush, the songs on Settle Your Scores have a familiar edge to them, but are delivered through a fresh and invigorated aperture that is guaranteed to put you under their spell.
The album opens to a thundering start, with a cool, retro 70s era psychedelic prog-rock vibe in track “Not So Long Ago” which sets the stage for the blistering tunes that comprise Settle Your Scores. Segwaying into “Jim Vance” with its staccato guitar riff intro, followed by “The Perilous Realm” featuring roaring riffs, thundering drums, and a rather nimble performance on the Hammond organ by Jonas Gehlen, Neite’s vocals rip through the track, making it the perfect fit to the boisterous song.
With their lightly distorted guitar and lush Hammond organ piping along happily in the background, tracks “Cursed Place”, “The Secret Commonwealth,” and “Awful Fellow” echo the California sound of the late 60s and 70s and present an atmospheric blues-rock sound. “Thoughts & Prayers” is bound to be a live favourite, with its classic stomp-progression that features a mid-song twist, it’s bound to get you bopping along. Bombastic songs “Not At All”, and “The Poacher” are full of raw energy from start to finish, but “Grit” is one of the heaviest songs on the album, as it opens with dominating organ riffs that build into a barnstorming rock anthem. “Flesh & Bone” has a stripped back intro which builds into a dream-like hazy ballad where Neite’s vocals really take centre stage. And finally, title track “Settle Your Scores” rounds off the album nicely, with a hard rock sound that harkens back to a halcyon age of rock and ties all the elements of the other eleven tracks together perfectly.
Settle Your Scores is the debut album by Hound, and it has left me undeniably impressed. I can easily envision a long career for this young band if this is the kind of music we can expect from them. My only complaint is that the vocals get a bit lost in the production. It’s clear that Wanja Neite has a powerful voice with quite an impressive upper range, but it’s often muted against the rich production of the instrumentals. However, with track after track of quality songs, this album has something for every rock lover.
Ratings: 8/10 
Written by: Erik De’Viking
My Global Mind – Reviewer / Music Journalist
Erik De’Viking is a freelance music journalist based in the South of England. His musical interests include rock and metal in all its forms, and he is constantly on the lookout for new bands and genres to discover and later preach about to the masses.
Socials: Twitter: @Erik_DeViking Instagram: @Erik_DeViking Last.FM: @Erik_DeViking Spotify: Erik De’Viking
About Author
