Mad Hatter 2.0 - Back with even more power...
Ever the band to weather a storm and come out stronger than ever, Mad Hatter 2.0 are back after a tumultuous year with a new single, Forgiven. Having gone through a band realignment earlier on in the year, I had questioned whether they were going to be able to keep going and come back still with their heavy assed sound – but ever the reliable chap he is, Marc was soon back in touch saying everything was good! He dropped me a line about the new track so I figured hey, I better see what’s going on!
As if I ever needed to worry, Forgiven opens and immediately shows that not only are Mad Hatter still going strong, they’re on top form and hammering out tracks which are seriously going to make you sit back and think wow! Full to the brim with anger and emotion, this is a track dedicated to their issues, a track which showcases the bands feelings towards those that have let them down and shows that if anything, it’s made them even more dedicated to succeed than before. The signature vocals rove away over the backing track, hammering out with the force and aggression of a full on metal band, whilst the backing music continues to harness the power and force it down your throat. It goes without saying that this is a funky track, taking a heavy approach and somehow making it their own, once again showing that Mad Hatter are here and aren’t going to let anything get them down.
The second track on their Soundcloud page further demonstrates this power, throwing straight into a funky mix of hammering guitar lines, pounding drums and rib crumbling bass. Your Own Worst Enemy doesn’t follow the conventions of any particular genre, instead opting to charge headfirst into a melee of distortion, hate and power. Once again showing off the amount of anger which remains within the band, this is another track which showcases the bands ability to take a hit and come back stronger than ever, using the hatred and emotion to craft powerful tracks rather than letting it get them down. Personally, I think it would be impossible to pick a ‘better’ track between the two of these, they’re both so well crafted and so downright powerful that I think it’s safer just to say – wow, they’re back!
I’ve kept an eye on Mad Hatter since the issues earlier this year, and whilst I’ve got my opinions I don’t think this is the place to state them. The one thing I will say though is that I’ve always had a soft spot for the band, always enjoyed the music they’ve produced and can’t wait to get out to see them live – so when I saw there were issues I was genuinely worried that it would all be over and done with. As I said though, I needn’t have worried as what’s happened is they’ve gotten bigger, more powerful, stronger and downright heavier.
Welcome back chaps…..
To find out more about Mad Hatter 2.0, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
As if I ever needed to worry, Forgiven opens and immediately shows that not only are Mad Hatter still going strong, they’re on top form and hammering out tracks which are seriously going to make you sit back and think wow! Full to the brim with anger and emotion, this is a track dedicated to their issues, a track which showcases the bands feelings towards those that have let them down and shows that if anything, it’s made them even more dedicated to succeed than before. The signature vocals rove away over the backing track, hammering out with the force and aggression of a full on metal band, whilst the backing music continues to harness the power and force it down your throat. It goes without saying that this is a funky track, taking a heavy approach and somehow making it their own, once again showing that Mad Hatter are here and aren’t going to let anything get them down.
The second track on their Soundcloud page further demonstrates this power, throwing straight into a funky mix of hammering guitar lines, pounding drums and rib crumbling bass. Your Own Worst Enemy doesn’t follow the conventions of any particular genre, instead opting to charge headfirst into a melee of distortion, hate and power. Once again showing off the amount of anger which remains within the band, this is another track which showcases the bands ability to take a hit and come back stronger than ever, using the hatred and emotion to craft powerful tracks rather than letting it get them down. Personally, I think it would be impossible to pick a ‘better’ track between the two of these, they’re both so well crafted and so downright powerful that I think it’s safer just to say – wow, they’re back!
I’ve kept an eye on Mad Hatter since the issues earlier this year, and whilst I’ve got my opinions I don’t think this is the place to state them. The one thing I will say though is that I’ve always had a soft spot for the band, always enjoyed the music they’ve produced and can’t wait to get out to see them live – so when I saw there were issues I was genuinely worried that it would all be over and done with. As I said though, I needn’t have worried as what’s happened is they’ve gotten bigger, more powerful, stronger and downright heavier.
Welcome back chaps…..
To find out more about Mad Hatter 2.0, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Mad Hatter 2.0 - EMT
I’ve been a fan of Mad Hatter 2.0 since we were first put onto them just after setting up the site. As such, when they got in touch about their new EP, EMT, recorded at Brightsound Studios and mixed by Mike Keen, I jumped at the chance to check out what they’d been up to. As one of the hardest working bands I’ve ever come across, these guys are a real force to be reckoned with on the live scene, so what of the new stuff?
The opening moments of Considering This leave you in the dark as to what is going to follow, opening almost electronically before throwing down into one of the heaviest riffs I’ve ever come across. Adding in a sense of groove and funk through the bass and vocal combination, this track immediately grabs your attention and forces you to join the band for the ride. Catchy, powerful and fuelled by aggression, this is a track which is crafted for the live scene, and one which secures this bands status as a force to be reckoned with. Add in a guitar solo courtesy of Elliot from Cambion and what you’ve got here is a track which does exactly what you want it to do – provides you with some damned heavy music to destroy stuff to!
Save Me continues the dark and distorted theme of the album, once again opening with some heavy assed riffs, underpinned with some pinch harmonics and a heavy bass line before kicking into a rolling melee of drumming, fast riffs and all out power. Once again crafting a track which is going to tear live venues apart, the overall power of this track immediately grabs you and makes you want to get out to check these guys out, it’s an incredible sound. No Apology doesn’t show any signs of slowing up, once again launching you head first into a distorted melee of riffs, drumming and Marc’s gravelly vocal lines. It’s striking how powerful a 4 piece band can be when they set their minds on it, and this is a prime example of that happening. Throughout the track you can’t help but wonder how they can create such a massive sound, keeping everything powerful yet always allowing the sense of melody to flow through things equally. Another track which is going to get you moving along, this one stands out as a serious highpoint on the album, and a track which you need to make sure you check out!
Kill It Anyway continues the groovy melodic theme of the previous track, once again throwing into a riff fuelled mix designed to get you moving along with the band. Spitting the vocals out above the music, Marc once again adds a real sense of the groove side of metal to things and keeps a sense of movement running through the track, making this another track which is surely going to absolutely slay on the live scene. Title track EMT follows on, opening with a sludgy riff before kicking into a straight up, hard hitting riff of epic proportions. Keeping the beat slow, the heaviness of this track seems to almost be accentuated as it grows, forming a track which is hard to keep up with at first, but soon grabs you and has you reaching for the volume up button once again. Catchy, powerful, hard hitting and oozing with energetic power, this is another high point on the album and the track which I would probably class as my favourite of the EP.
Something’s Got To Give follows the crescendo of EMT, once again opening with sound effects before kicking into a treble fuelled riff to get things going. Harking more towards the more conventional metal bands you tend to come across, the band seem to have taken their influences here and formed a sound which is firmly their own whilst nodding to those who have inspired them. Once again spitting the vocals out over the heavy backing track, the darkness of this track adds an element of emotion to things, crafting a track which isn’t just heavy, but also sits in your mind and makes you think about it. It’s almost a shock then when The Viscount Skat comes in to close the EP, opening with a piano line over some layered vocals and continuing this way for the 39 seconds of the track. Finishing on a strange note, this shows off the sense of humour from the band and leaves you not only wanting to go back through it all again, but also with a smile on your face.
Mad Hatter 2.0 have done it again, they’ve managed to craft an EP which is going to sit happily on your shelf between albums from much bigger artists. Their sound has been refined over their time touring to create something here which shows off their development, shows how far they’ve come and shows that they are capable of keeping their sound fresh and new in a market where all too many bands are just following convention. If you’re looking for an EP from a band who have worked hard to create a sound, worked hard to produce and album and can honestly sit and look at it with pride, then this is it – the only thing you’ll be left saying will be ‘more please’.
To find out more about Mad Hatter 2.0, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
The opening moments of Considering This leave you in the dark as to what is going to follow, opening almost electronically before throwing down into one of the heaviest riffs I’ve ever come across. Adding in a sense of groove and funk through the bass and vocal combination, this track immediately grabs your attention and forces you to join the band for the ride. Catchy, powerful and fuelled by aggression, this is a track which is crafted for the live scene, and one which secures this bands status as a force to be reckoned with. Add in a guitar solo courtesy of Elliot from Cambion and what you’ve got here is a track which does exactly what you want it to do – provides you with some damned heavy music to destroy stuff to!
Save Me continues the dark and distorted theme of the album, once again opening with some heavy assed riffs, underpinned with some pinch harmonics and a heavy bass line before kicking into a rolling melee of drumming, fast riffs and all out power. Once again crafting a track which is going to tear live venues apart, the overall power of this track immediately grabs you and makes you want to get out to check these guys out, it’s an incredible sound. No Apology doesn’t show any signs of slowing up, once again launching you head first into a distorted melee of riffs, drumming and Marc’s gravelly vocal lines. It’s striking how powerful a 4 piece band can be when they set their minds on it, and this is a prime example of that happening. Throughout the track you can’t help but wonder how they can create such a massive sound, keeping everything powerful yet always allowing the sense of melody to flow through things equally. Another track which is going to get you moving along, this one stands out as a serious highpoint on the album, and a track which you need to make sure you check out!
Kill It Anyway continues the groovy melodic theme of the previous track, once again throwing into a riff fuelled mix designed to get you moving along with the band. Spitting the vocals out above the music, Marc once again adds a real sense of the groove side of metal to things and keeps a sense of movement running through the track, making this another track which is surely going to absolutely slay on the live scene. Title track EMT follows on, opening with a sludgy riff before kicking into a straight up, hard hitting riff of epic proportions. Keeping the beat slow, the heaviness of this track seems to almost be accentuated as it grows, forming a track which is hard to keep up with at first, but soon grabs you and has you reaching for the volume up button once again. Catchy, powerful, hard hitting and oozing with energetic power, this is another high point on the album and the track which I would probably class as my favourite of the EP.
Something’s Got To Give follows the crescendo of EMT, once again opening with sound effects before kicking into a treble fuelled riff to get things going. Harking more towards the more conventional metal bands you tend to come across, the band seem to have taken their influences here and formed a sound which is firmly their own whilst nodding to those who have inspired them. Once again spitting the vocals out over the heavy backing track, the darkness of this track adds an element of emotion to things, crafting a track which isn’t just heavy, but also sits in your mind and makes you think about it. It’s almost a shock then when The Viscount Skat comes in to close the EP, opening with a piano line over some layered vocals and continuing this way for the 39 seconds of the track. Finishing on a strange note, this shows off the sense of humour from the band and leaves you not only wanting to go back through it all again, but also with a smile on your face.
Mad Hatter 2.0 have done it again, they’ve managed to craft an EP which is going to sit happily on your shelf between albums from much bigger artists. Their sound has been refined over their time touring to create something here which shows off their development, shows how far they’ve come and shows that they are capable of keeping their sound fresh and new in a market where all too many bands are just following convention. If you’re looking for an EP from a band who have worked hard to create a sound, worked hard to produce and album and can honestly sit and look at it with pride, then this is it – the only thing you’ll be left saying will be ‘more please’.
To find out more about Mad Hatter 2.0, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls