Hinder All American Nightmare

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by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

Besides the fact that “hinder” may be one of the most passive verbs ever to be chosen as a band’s collective moniker — well, there’s KISS too — the band from Oklahoma, Hinder, has released one of the few Modern Rock albums this year that can give people hope that homogeneity isn’t the rule. Titled All American Nightmare, the snarky, heavy, somewhat-bluesy album is different enough from bands like Nickelback/Seether/Theory of a Deadman and their ilk, and also shows a sense of humor — another thing missing from most Modern Rock acts today.

As the band’s third studio release, they waste no time on “2 Sides of Me” to pull you into the the sort of testosterone-driven, Saliva-ish track that is a tad too reminiscient of … everything today … to NOT skip to the next song.

That track aside, things get back on pace with “All American Nightmare.” Lead singer Austin Winkler, somewhat like Brent Smith of Shinedown, sings with a real honesty and edge that cannot be forced. You either have it, or you don’t. Winkler, at least for most of All American Nightmare, has whatever IT is. The track pummels you with both bottom-edge rage and deft guitar solos, although Joe Harvey could perchance have found a bit more space to tear into things. Melodic and bludgeoning, “All American Nightmare” will make any Hinder fan feel relief — they still kick ass.

“What You Gonna Do” is one of those softer, acoustic, mid-tempo rockers that can get a band into trouble. When you sing about heartache and toil, and you are a thrice platinum group of young gents … well, have they really been there? “What you gonna do, when the whiskey ain’t working no more … nobody’s beating down your door … what you gonna do?” It’s like a modern day Johnny Cash rock anthem, except, Johnny Cash lived what he wrote about. All that deconstruction aside, it’s the best track on All American Nightmare. It soars, it pulls at your soul (should you still have one), it’s a massive sing-along, and you won’t be able to get it out of your head, no matter how much Wild Turkey you drink. Winkler shines on this track; it’s a great vocal moment.

Yes, Hinder does not take themselves too seriously, a huge plus for the band, and it comes out on “Hey Ho,” a song that is basically about how much they (and millions of others) are allergic to Hip Hop/Urban/R&B/Dance music. One of the best lines on the entire album is, “I like getting high — not riding low!” While goofy, you can bet this is one of their next singles, and it should be just another in a long line of hits for Hinder.

The ’80s has its say on “Striptease.” The riff here is chunkier than anything made by Campbell’s Soup (on purpose, anyway). The guys have a knack for lyrics. “I can only listen to you in a magazine! You’re the reason there ain’t music on MTV!” Caustic and biting, and ripping on the Heidi Montags on the globe, Hinder has created one of the best new songs to be played alongside Motley Crue’s “Girls Girls Girls” and Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” while dazzling women happily disrobe for cash before your eyes. Like most of the songs on All American Nightmare, it could be a huge hit.

Just so you don’t think irreverence is the name of the game, “Everybody’s Wrong” is a touching, keyboard led composition that is poignant, haunting and even … semi-elegant. It’s damn near impossible to stand apart in this genre — and for the most part bands don’t even want to — but Hinder has accomplished this, and perhaps a little more, on All American Nightmare.

So, while they could have picked a more abrasive name that didn’t mean “impede” or “delay” — maybe something like Immolate — Hinder’s new studio album stands out at a time when mainstream Rock music is about as as refreshing as sipping flat, warm, decades old TaB cola. Yes, out of the pink can …

Band:
Austin Winkler – vocals
Joe Garvey – lead guitar
Mark King – rhythm guitar
Mike Rodden – bass guitar
Cody Hanson – drums

Online: www.hindermusic.com

Track listing:
01. 2 Sides of Me
02. All American Nightmare
03. What Ya Gonna Do
04. Hey Ho
05. The Life
06. Waking Up The Devil
07. Red Tail Lights
08. Striptease
09. Everybody’s Wrong
10. Put That Record On

Label: Universal

Genre: Hard Rock

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10