Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
The Hidden Hand
Title
Mother, Teacher, Destroyer
Type
LP/EP
Company
Southern Lord
YOR
2004
Style
Doom/Stoner
1/17/2005 - Review by: Psycho Sarah
The Hidden Hand - Mother, Teacher, Destroyer - Southernlord 2004 reviewed by: Psycho Sarah

Track Listing
The 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
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: THE HIDDEN HAND
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Mother, Teacher, Destroyer
2004
Southern Lord
Psycho Sarah1/17/2005
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: THE HIDDEN HAND
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


<< back >>