Review
The Great Hurricane Escape
If Not Now, When?

There is so much music coming out that it is impossible to keep up. Every now and then I spend a couple of evenings checking out labels that I dig, just to see what’s new. One of those evenings I visited the bandcamp of White Russian Records and discovered this EP by The Great Hurricane Escape. One e-mail later I had this promo in my inbox.

I’ve been sitting on this review since. I find it very hard to describe to you what attracted me to this EP. But a good description of this EP is what you are looking for, aren’t you? The Great Hurricane Escape is a band from Dordrecht, the Netherlands. If Not Now, When? is their debut EP. The label info states it is a mix of punk, hardcore, southern rock and a hint of metal. All I can say is: I do not agree with this breakdown. For starters I fail to find the southern rock in the sound. The metal part I can agree upon as long as it’s of the nu metal variant. Take a song like “Truth” for example, which to my ears sounds like Hoobastank in a punky mood.

That is also the only song where I can pinpoint some references. It bugs me that even after spinning this EP twenty times or more I can not come up with bandnames this band reminds me of. While I am pretty sure I know a couple of bands that operate in the same genre. A couple of pointers: some nu metal catchyness, some (post) hardcore reference points can be found and a lot of punk energy. The vocals switch from rough around the edges to catchy choruses ready to be sung along.

The production points into the direction of stadium filling acts. Especially the drum sound. It was the first thing I noticed when I pushed play. I love it, it sounds so massive! The production fits the music like a glove, it gives it a slick and huge feeling. The sound of a band ready for something big. I am curious how this sound translates to the stage. As seeing a live show is not yet a real option, I’ll just push play again.