Change and turbulence are an inevitability within the music industry. This is all too apparent for Grand Rapids, MI-based Hollow Front, as after a bus accident/insurance lawsuit, they are now comprised of two members, Tyler Tate and Lee Albrecht. Not ready to call it quits yet, the metalcore duo wrote: “We’re still very much the same band, minus Dakota singing. Being in a band isn’t a life long commitment. So when people feel like it’s time to move on, for whatever reason, there’s no hard feelings. Only support.” It’s now or never for Tate and Albrecht as they are ready to show the group’s new record, The Fear of Letting Go, to the world.
Just a year removed from prior record The Price of Dreaming, it’s a testament to the workhorse mentality to put out The Fear of Letting Go with such haste. That’s why it’s so impressive that despite the vocal switch, there’s no drop in quality. Fans of such modern metalcore acts as Wage War and Fit For a King will instantly find this 2023 entry to be a thrilling listen. Whether it’s the chuggy verses or the anthemic choruses, Hollow Front weaves their DNA from a unique point in the genre’s history. Writes Lee in a Reddit AMA: “When we were writing the album we discussed a bunch of old albums but not a ton of modern ones. Tyler and I are both big fans of old metalcore”
The modern metalcore landscape is equal parts heavy as it is melodic, and The Fear of Letting Go strikes this balance with poise. On top of that, it mixes in electronic elements ever so subtly yet impactfully, all integrated with Lee’s production cues capitalizing on his songwriting chops. Since Lee and Tyler have worked in tandem since the band’s inception, the core of Hollow Front is a seamless two-piece – but Dakota Alvarez’s presence is still a welcome addition in “Under Pressure” and “Letting Go”.
There’s ample surprises and big moments on The Fear of Letting Go that separate Hollow Front from the pack. “Over the Cradle” gutted my heart in its closing lyrics, which led into the heaviest and best song on the record “Crash and Burn” featuring ERRA/Texas in July’s JT Cavey. Throughout the rest of the record, the common theme of “breaking point” and “pressure” tends to rear its head in a little too frequently within the lyricism, but this nitpick hardly detracts from the rest of the moving pieces that make each listen enjoyable.
There’s no other band in metalcore that could go through what Hollow Front went through and still churn out a great album in record time. The Fear of Letting Go is living proof that Tyler Tate and Lee Albrecht are powerhouses with their passion and can produce a competent product no matter what adversity they’re faced with. Even though the duo isn’t set to tour in the near future, they can rest well knowing the Hollow Front project still has legs and will be loved by fans far and wide in The Fear of Letting Go.
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