Written by: Luke Dunmore
Band:
Album Title:
Release Date:
Fate’s Hollow
Broken Crowns
3rd September 2024
The road hasn’t been an easy one but, largely due to a successful crowd funding campaign, the debut album by this Manchester-based quartet is about to be released into the public.
Fate’s Hollow take in a diverse selection of influences, ranging from musical theatre to post-hardcore. Blending them together, combining progressive, technical elements with memorable, anthemic choruses and a fine sense of storytelling to offer up a thoughtful and intricate form of alternative rock that’ll hold the interest of chin strokers and foot tappers alike.
It’s at this point that the storytelling aspect becomes pertinent because, as the title might suggest, The Heir Apparition Part I – Broken Crowns is a concept album and the the first instalment of a two-part collection.
A brief synopsis of the concept plot then: The Heir Apparition relates the tale of Elo, a spoiled prince in a stereotypical land of fantasy. He feels trapped in the royal tower and, despite warnings from the king, he sneaks out. Unfortunately he ends up being kidnapped and tortured to death by conspirators who want to usurp the throne. Some time later, he’s resurrected by loyalists to wreak his revenge, The Crow-style.
Broken Crowns ends right at the point of his resurrection so all the bottom-hoofing will sadly occur during the as-yet-untitled second album.
Now, I’m sure there’s plenty of you who’ll see ‘concept album’ and just roll your eyes and groan, but bear with me. Rather than tell a direct story, the songs more relay it more through theme and tone. In addition, Reece (vocals/guitars) intertwines them with relevant experiences and stories of his own. For example, The Sum (Mother) falls just after Elo has died and he meets his long dead Mother in the Afterlife. In real life it’s also about Reece being separated from his own Mum during lockdown, not seeing her in person for over two years, how hard that was for both of them and how much older she seemed when they did finally meet up again, particularly as his Grandfather died over that period too It’s a beautifully emotional song and you can hear the hurt in Reece’s voice during the refrain of “Until we meet again” and it’s an album highlight. The song, not the hurt.
The only songs that really relate solely to Elo’s saga are the short into, Mors Non Est Finis (Death Is Not The End) and first song proper, The King And The Killer which serves as a synopsis of the plot of Broken Crowns. It’s a great opener and, at just shy of six minutes long, it’s the lengthiest song on the album. It has a wonderful dramatic tension throughout and is a great example of the way the guitars of Reece and James play off and complement each other.
In contrast to the taut atmosphere of The King And The Killer, the brilliant Child Of Fortune is much more carefree and invigorating. There’s an upbeat 80s rock feel to it and an absolutely massive chorus so it’s unsurprising that it was chosen for the lead single.
Other highlights are Forever, that’s built around a twin guitar lead, very reminiscent of Iron Maiden. There’s a fantastic stop/start breakdown two thirds through that’s worthy of mention in an already fine song, and The Turning Knife which sees the antagonist questioning his actions and strengthening his resolve that he’s doing what he sees as the right thing, Both songs have choruses that’ll stay with you for days, particularly the latter in the line “They’ll bury you before the dawn” that’s especially menacing when taking the theme of the song into consideration.
The Heir Apparition Part I – Broken Crowns is an excellent album but, with a run time of thirty five minutes and just eight full songs, it’s perhaps a little short. Though I do understand it’s a suitable place to have a break in the story, another couple of songs wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Another issue I have is that, apart from the closing ballad The Dancers In The Dark, all of the songs are roughly of the same pace and, apart from The King And The Killer, are roughly the same length. The songs are all too well-written to be considered samey but I would have maybe liked to have seen a little more variety in there: a sprawling prog rock epic or a two minute rager perhaps?
Still. These are minor, personal quibbles with what is a very enjoyable listen if you love good tunes and a good yarn if you’re a great big nerd like me. There’s additional XP granted in the fact that they have subtly reused the occasional lyric or melody as little Easter eggs for you to go back and find. Sterling work.
Bring on Part II, I’ll be waiting.
Fate’s Hollow are:
Reece Warburton
James Glenn
Tom West
Kyle Larkin
Track Listing
- Mors None Est Finis
- The King and the Killer
- Child of Fortune
- Evil Things
- Lost Stars
- The Turning Knife
- The Sum (Mother)
- Forever
- The Dancers in the Dark