Conjuring imagery of an abandoned nightclub, a driving guitar riff, and tone that introduces you to the more raw and rowdy reality The Hollow is trying to paint. Quickly, the sparseness explodes into a massive wave of sound, as if all the lights in an empty warehouse were suddenly switched on all at once. In the reviews past, we have described The Hollow as having a massive sonic to their records, one that is closer to a rogue wave than the bullet of a gun. I think this is a classic example of that methodology at work in regards to instrumentation and arrangement, but certainly taken to new heights.
This song in many ways represents a step forward for the band. There is a refinement to the mix that hasn’t been achieved on previous records. The Hollow is now starting to play with balance more so than they ever have and it shows in the chant vocals during the chorus. This particular styling is not an easy one to achieve. With that many layers it really is remarkable that the rest of the track comes in as clean as it does. As a mark for other bands to follow, I would recommend having these guys listen to your mix and give you notes. If anything is certain, they have been doing their homework.
While there is a lot of power, layering, and engineering prowess in this track, I will say it fell short in presenting anything new for The Hollow. This leads back to the age old debate on whether you can throw together a bunch of bits of different tracks that are in themselves not unique to make something that is. Is everything we create just borrowed from something else? When you get under the hood of “Horse Blinders” as a track, there are more than a few elements borrowed from a slew of tracks. One most notable in my mind is Lonely Boy by the Black Keys. The intent and final result of the tracks are quite different, but they also strike me as being somehow linked. Similar to how if you buy a Lexus, it’s just a nicer version of a Toyota Camry. They may share a lot of components under the hood, but they are by no means the ‘same’ car.
The Hollow has been on their way up for awhile. No doubt they are breaking new ground on how one can make a record and mix sound professional. Musically, they seem to be evolving as well, playing with stylistic and instrumental elements. As a band, if their priority is crafting something that sticks with the vast public and not only their own fanbase, I would say this track falters. It seems that for now, “Horse Blinders” is going to be a real treat for the dedicated group of fans that already exist for The Hollow, and I imagine will swoon some new followers whenever they play live due to its explosive energy. It scans more as an anthem to galvanize an existing base, rather than someone trying to make an accessible ‘hit’ for the masses. For 2019, in a world saturated with folks trying to be everything for everyone, this is very much so a welcome treat.