Bands like The Holloh are just like an ideal bus service: one comes along approximately every ten minutes.

Unfortunately, like the buses on this idealised transport system, they are unlikely to take you to any new places. All aboard then for misery, self loathing and "why do nice girls hate me?"

The Good and The Bad:

That is not, of course, to say that The Holloh are without their good points. They would hardly have been noticed by Matchbox Recordings if it was all bad news.

"Realise", the opening track on their demo is full of good things when it comes to the instrumental bits and solos. It's a head banging surge of energy that could, in the right conditions, blow you head off.

Fast and Slow; Loud and Soft:

Similarly, the twelve-eight rhythm of third track "Forever More" stands out from the crowd with its incessant beat. And then there's the slower paced "Just Another Day" which hints at beauty, but just misses thanks to some dodgy vocal harmonies in the chorus.

Too Many Clichés:

But the big problem lies with the lyrics. Many rock bands seem to aim at the spirit of depression manifest in the poetry of Silvia Plath, Emily Dickinson or R.S. Thomas. But, instead, the aspiring lyricist can end up sounding more like William McGonnagal. We've seen it in bands like The Trauma and Apache Rose, and now we have it in The Holloh.

Clichéd metaphor after bland observation after miserable self indulgent line bedeck the lyrics of The Holloh's output.

A sample lyric is found in the chorus of "Just Another Day": "If it's just another day, then why do I still feel this way?" You kind of feel tempted to say, "The clue's in the question, mate."

I Hate My Life - Or Do I?:

Do bands such as The Holloh genuinely feel this miserable (it is, of course, possible), or do they merely find themselves musically obliged to affect depression, because that is the trend in the style of music they play?

No one's expecting them to cover "The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music", but it's an interesting thing to contemplate.

Beneath the Lyrics:

In order to appreciate The Holloh in a positive way, you have to forget the lyrics. Underneath the turgid McGonnagal-ese lies good, rocking guitars and even, at one point, an imaginatively used violin. It is in the instrumentals, particularly the last couple of minutes of "Realise" that Holloh really have the chance to shine.

American Idol:

Stylistically, The Holloh share with many other local bands the desire to sound like American alternative indie/rock bands. When not trying to do this, they end up sounding like British bands that aspire to be American. Idlewild springs to mind when you listen to "Forever More".

Names:

In the band's favour, we can say this: at least they are what they say they are. With the names of internationally famous Nirvana and the locally lauded Elysium, one could be forgiven for thinking you the two bands produced gentle, peaceful music - maybe even lift muzak.

With Holloh, what you see is what you get. There's a whole lot of Holloh-ing going on.

Next Big Thing?:

So what next for Holloh? If they really are going to be the Next Big Thing, they will need to work a bit more on their song sheet. The music is fine - just work on those darned lyrics!

10/02/04 - First published on www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire on this link