Year: 2024
Total Time: 14.54
Label: Hilltops Recordings
The case of HILLTOPS ARE FOR DREAMERS is quite interesting. We are talking about a band created in 2018 by the multi-instrumentalist Vassilis Papageorgakopoulos, who is based in London. It could also be characterized as a solo project in which multitude of musicians have participated. In Papageorgakopoulos’ quest to find the musical style that suits him, his band’s first releases included tunes from Black Metal and melodic Death Metal to Progressive and post-Metal parts.
In the new EP, “The Tragedy Of Being Human” HAFD change its style again. To be more precise, the band focuses on one aspect in the music, and this is Progressive Metal. Comparing to the first EP “Hilltops Are For Dreamers” (released in 2020) and the current release, I find several differences. Two of those are the length of the songs and the vocal approach. Talking about the first difference, both songs are around 15 minutes long but in 2020 those 15 minutes were split into 5 songs, while in “The Tragedy Of Being Human” into only 3 songs. Perhaps this is a proof that the band has now decided what path will follow, giving more time to develop a musical idea. As for the second part, clean vocals are prevailing now and this enhances the Progressive Metal character of the EP. A typical example is the first song, “The Firmament” with its piano intro, clean vocals and heavy guitars from a certain point onwards but also with the necessary connection to the past through the growls that act as a background in specific moments. This is followed by “Hyacinth”, perhaps the catchiest of the three due to its chorus but also the guitar solo which always draws the attention. Finally, in “Timeless Time” the dramatic atmosphere requires a more decisive role in the harsh vocals.
Overall, this is a very interesting release by HAFD that shows their focus nowadays but we’d definitely like a little more. I hope there will be a full length release soon because Vassilis really seems to have great ideas and a fresh proposal in Progressive Metal.
Rating: 7,5/10
Editor: Kostas Boudoukos
Related Link: HILLTOPS ARE FOR DREAMERS – Bandcamp Page
