HOODS
PRAY FOR DEATH
VICTORY

LINKS:
victoryrecords.com

If you're tired of pop infested "punk" bands or Marilyn Manson wannabes, then Hoods is for you. Having a strong collaboration of hard metal and punk, these five guys make no apologies for being loud, rude and simply badass. Having no shame and commanding authority, these guys from Sacramento, California refuse attempts to be just the average rock band. They make Slipknot sound tame with their hardcore roars and "I don't give a fuck" attitude
Never decreasing in beat, the Hoods will immediately change your blood pressure and make you scream out profanities with a cheesy smile on your face. Although they're a great relief against modern-day boy bands with piercings, do these guys grab the attention of listeners with their collaboration of two diverse genres?
The Hoods are well known for affronting the world with controversial topics with the ear blasting vocals of it's leader Mike Hood and his sidekick Benito Garcia. Pray For Death is an album which agitates against alcoholism, drug addiction, betrayal, and everyday corruption—a nice change of pace compared to obvious topics other bands praise about, such as love. This is the album that mommy surely warn you about. Each track explores with different tones of beats, without slowing down. "I Hate You" contains a memorable speaking dialect. However, it was disappointing to hear "By My Side", which was too similar to the previous tracks, a major downfall most bands currently suffer from today. "I Own You" will surely bring the badass out in you, with it's bottled emotions and ascending of meters. "E Pugne Limpio" is a track that’s similar to what's being heard on any commercial station across the US. The title track, "Pray For Death" adds a Middle Eastern beginning for added flavor. However, the Hoods leaves a bittersweet taste knowing it's potential to stand out, yet having so many tracks similar to each other.
Perhaps it's their collaboration of two genres that brings them lower than what's meant to be. It seems that their punk and metal influences are left separated from each other, rather than combining both as a whole. If this were done, they would surely create a more exceptional collection of music than what’s often heard. Other than that, I definitely recommend "Pray For Death" if you simply don't want to deal with life's problems for twenty-five minutes.

----Stephanie Nolasco