The Hedrons – ‘One More Won’t Kill Us’ (Measured/Pinnacle) Released 05/02/07

Attempting to write about The Hedrons is like trying to describe the feeling (most of) you get when you’re going to work: you don’t really want to go, but don’t mind it when you get there, and you don’t hate it, but nor do you love it. Granted, there are those out there who do love their job and those who hate it, but for the majority, it is something that must be tolerated but not enjoyed. This is the exact feeling you get when listening to The Hedron’s debut album. There are 12 tracks of stiflingly similar songs – the same vocal style, the same drum beat, and the same guitar effects.  To be fair, they are fulfilling the classic rock formula, but it is all too straight-forward and simple. There is nothing challenging.

Now don’t misunderstand, the four-piece aren’t necessarily bad – for a start, they can all play their instruments, which, it cannot be denied, is certainly useful for a band. Album highlight, ‘Couldn’t Leave Her Alone’ is a bit more promising than album opener and third single, ‘Heatseeker’, showing more aggression, ability and assertiveness than other tracks.  Singer/lead guitarist Tippi has a snarling hostility in her voice which gives the song an edgier realism, but the song writing doesn’t do her voice justice. Too often, the band resort to repeating the song title over and over again and the lyrics are too obvious and uninspiring to really mean anything.  ‘Sympathy’, track nine, opens well, with Libertine-inspired guitars and brief drum and bass solos and is probably the best track on the album. It stands out because it seems to be trying to do something a bit different and is a welcome relief from the merging repetitiveness of tracks four to six.

But what really grates on the ears is the relentless speed of all the songs: not a single one slows down for any length of time.  Penultimate track, ‘One More Won’t Kill Me’ provides momentary relief, but the track’s slower intro is merely there to lull you into a false sense of security.  Twenty seconds in, and it’s back to the same old drum beat. To be honest, Hedrons, one more track of this and it may just kill us.