Maximum Metal Rating Legend

The Hidden Hand - Mother, Teacher, Destroyer - Southernlord 2004 reviewed by: Psycho Sarah

Track ListingThe Crossing Half Mast Desensitized Draco Vibration Black Ribbon Magdalene Currents Travesty as Usual Coffin Lily Sons of Kings The Deprogramming of Tom Delay

The Hidden Hand was a band I had never heard of till I received the album. I quickly found a cd player that didn’t have one of my mandatory cds in it, and put it in. The first listen, I really paid no attention to it, so I put it in again, and paid attention to this album and was amazed. Never had I heard such a diverse song and music combination. Its genre is known as Doom/Stoner Rock and I never thought that I would be one to enjoy that genre of music, but I have been proved wrong by this album. When I read some info about them, I discovered that this was a first time effort for these musicians, who previously had other projects that went south. Its raw, its fast, and its wonderful.

Draco Vibration is a great melody of a song, with no lyrics, just instrumental pleasure. It’s a soothing break from the album and it refreshes the lost thoughts that go missing with so much vocals. The instrumental piece gives you depth, but doesn’t outdo itself with the length, they keep it fairly short, but in the time they allow for you to hear, gives you the soothing and refreshing components that were missing previously.

Travesty as Usual, is about the only song on the album that I cannot get into. It seems to drag through the song, like it was originally created as a faster song, and they toned it down as it went on. I can't say that I enjoy it. I don’t think it’s a completely not enjoyable by any means since it has good guitar and great bass. I just think its too slow for my tastes in music, or rather for the rest of the album. It just doesn’t fit.

Hidden Hand got its beginning in 2002, when a previous gig fell flat and one member asked some other musicians if they wanted to jam. At the start, everyone was unaware of each others talents, and went into it with open eyes and mind, bringing forth different takes on music, and different style of artistry to form what we know in 2004, as The Hidden Hand. it’s a great album, and a great first effort for these men.


--Sarah 01.17.05