The Dayton, Ohio-based emo/post-hardcore/punk revival unit's sixth studio long player and first outing for Pure Noise Records, Bad Frequencies forgoes the narrative-driven conceptual route that served as the foundation for 2013's Zero.
However, anger, heartbreak, and regret still reign supreme, and that misery trifecta remains the linchpin that holds Hawthorne Heights together -- big hooks and radio-friendly choruses delivered with plenty of pop-punk snap and a little bit of classic rock posturing are pretty baked in as well.
In fact, not too much has changed, either sonically or lyrically, since the band's heyday in the mid-2000s.
The myriad pains, while still prevalent, have been diluted a bit by nostalgia, with songs like "Pink Hearts," "Starlighter (Echo, Utah)," and "Just Another Ghost" coming off as more wistful than apoplectic.
Still, Bad Frequencies is unabashedly old-school emo, with JT Woodruff's clean, nasally croon and Mark McMillon's guttural bellow politely waiting for their turns amidst the sugary maelstrom.
Longtime fans should feel satiated, as it's a perfectly acceptable and meticulously executed example of the genre, but there isn't a single left turn to be found, just an endless cul de sac of well-tread angst.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In GloomHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 02:35 | 5 MB | 0 MB |
| 2 | Pink HeartsHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 03:13 | 7 MB | 0 MB |
| 3 | Crimson SandHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 02:54 | 6 MB | 0 MB |
| 4 | The Perfect Way to Fall ApartHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 04:09 | 9 MB | 0 MB |
| 5 | Just Another GhostHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 03:05 | 7 MB | 0 MB |
| 6 | Bad FrequenciesHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 02:49 | 6 MB | 0 MB |
| 7 | SkylarkHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 03:14 | 7 MB | 0 MB |
| 8 | Edge of TownHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 03:01 | 6 MB | 0 MB |
| 9 | Starlighter (Echo, Utah)Hawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 03:18 | 7 MB | 0 MB |
| 10 | Push Me AwayHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 02:53 | 6 MB | 0 MB |
| 11 | The Suicide MileHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 03:39 | 8 MB | 0 MB |
| 12 | Straight Down the LineHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 02:51 | 6 MB | 0 MB |
| 13 | PillsHawthorne Heights, Mark McMillon, Matt Ridenour, James Thomas Woodruff | Hawthorne Heights | Play | 03:28 | 7 MB | 0 MB |
| 41 mins | 94 MB | |||||
| 0 mins | 0 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Alekel | Mastering |
| 2 | Will Deely | Vocals |
| 3 | Adam Chase Fields | Photography |
| 4 | John Fleischmann | Band Photo |
| 5 | Hawthorne Heights | Art Direction, Composer, Primary Artist, Producer |
| 6 | Nick Ingram | Engineer, Producer |
| 7 | Mark McMillon | Composer, Group Member |
| 8 | Kevin Moore | Art Direction, Design, Layout |
| 9 | Chris "Poppy" Popadak | Group Member |
| 10 | Matt Ridenour | Composer, Group Member |
| 11 | Sienna Skies | Vocals |
| 12 | Cameron Webb | Mixing |
| 13 | James Thomas Woodruff | Composer, Group Member |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |