Hong Faux – Desolation Years

9/10

If I can name one underrated band in the world it would be this band. Hong Faux.

Unlucky to not have formed and starting to release albums around 2000. A band playing a mix of rock music, with references like Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Alice in Chains, Valley of the Sun and for me the most obvious; Nada Surf.

They combine everyday rock with the lighter side of grunge, the more happy go lucky riffing of stoner music and a compelling way of writing songs. This is a more easily accessible music that lends the icing of some other cakes and baking their own lovely musical treat for us to take in.

The album kicks of with “Wake Me up for Exit” and straight away you get the into the song and the mix of pop like and grunge smelling hybrid that is so appealing. This is a song that you could mistake for an Alice in Chains song quite easy. But also, a Queens of the Stone Age.

My favorite track “Fornever” follows, and it has such a catchy chorus. Not only that, but it also has a shift in tempo, great lyrics and is an all together well-rounded piece of music.

“Zero Point” that follows along first single “Trains” and “New Vegas” shows the reference I made earlier about Nada Surf. The diversity in the songs, the mix between the pretty upbeat music and the ease of access combined with the level of anguish in the delivery of the vocals is a great combination and something that I for one love in music.

There are not really any dips during the 41:39 that the album run for. It is a step up from the previous releases from the band, both (plus one with mostly remastered/alternate versions) are great and worn-out albums in my house. Here on this release the quality has gone up a few notches in every department. The band are still doing what they do, but it is just better all around. I think honing the mix between happy and grime but still having music that is pleasant to connect with is a winning concept.

I would almost be tempted to put this at full score. But I think for that, the album must sink in and age with me for a while. I see it as being top 3 for the year 2023 already. But I have had that first impression before and been wrong. So even if the album has blown me away a little bit, I sort of hoped and expected it to be this good because of what I have heard from the band before. So, it will stay at 9/10 for now.

But, if you have not yet explored this group and you like rock music in general, give them a listen and help spread the Hong Faux word so that they get the credit that they deserve for the quality of music that they produce.