Worship Metal Album Of The Week – (Hed) PE – Forever!

Source // hed pe

We won’t lie, we were somewhat partial to (həd) p.e.’s schizophrenic rap-meets-metal-meets-reggae-meets-punk-meets-every-damn-thing late 90’s, early 00’s output. Their self titled debut was a wake up call, “Broke” was the album that made them a premier act and the world was bowing down to the creativity this band seemed to have in abundance. Time and changing trends may have stalled their progress but (həd) p.e. are still going strong and still releasing albums at an alarming rate. Forever! sees (həd) p.e. release album number 10….and it’s their finest album in 15 years.

Forever! is instantly brave and bold in its attempts to sound like no other band on the planet (earth) with “Lie” providing a smorgasbord of styles to savour before unleashing all hell with the “Waiting To Die” alike bruising of “Pay Me”; featuring downtuned riffing heavy enough to shake the earth from its axis. In fact, Forever! is the kind of album hell-bent on making you dig out those baggy-pants and get out there and have some fuckin’ fun again! Sure, (həd) p.e. are still angry – just listen to “Waste”, a hardcore punk freak out – but they haven’t forgotten the art of a good party anthem designed to smash bodies through the walls of each and every house party this record gatecrashes.

“Hurt” swaggers and strokes your soft spots with it’s bouncy grooves but, unpredictably (which should come as no surprise) also features death metal vocals which only add to the absurdity. In contrast, “Together” is a Greek-reggae mix (seriously) marketed for that end of the night wind-down. It shouldn’t work, it doesn’t really tie together but who cares when the diversity is this deliriously diabolical.

The wash your mouth out with soap, potty-mouthed rapping/shrieking of Jahred is as expletive filled and as varied as ever. Convincing, often amusing and delivered like fuckin’ Godzilla with a mic, the hooks here are plentiful and the choruses are as huge as that aforementioned oversized lizard. Moments may remind the listener of kindred spirits Skindred (what a tour that would be) but overall (həd) p.e. still operate in a league of their own and this is their best release since 2000’s Broke.

No pretence, you either ‘got this’ the first time around or you didn’t and Forever! will not change your mind if you’re a die hard (həd) p.e. hater. However, take it from us, flash-in-the-pan nu-metal wannabe’s they are most certainly not, rap-metal kings they most certainly are. It turns out that (həd) p.e. really are forever! 8/10

Tour News:

(hed)p.e. have been confirmed as special guests on Alien Ant Farm’s UK-IRE Tour this October and November. The tour will see (hed)p.e. performing songs from the new album plus a host of back catalogue classics and Alien Ant Farm will be playing their chart hit album ANThology‬ in full, to mark its 15th(!) anniversary.

Joining them on a bill not to be missed are Sumo Cyco and Kaleido.

October

18th – WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23
19th – EDINBURGH – La Belle Angele
20th – ABERDEEN – Garage
21st – BELFAST – Voodoo Lounge
22nd – DUBLIN
24th – PRESTON – 53 Degrees
25th – BRISTOL – Marble Factory
26th – CHESTER – Live Rooms
27th – LEAMINGTON SPA – Assembly
28th – SOUTHAMPTON – Engine Rooms
30th – WOLVERHAMPTON – Slade Rooms
31st – LONDON – O2 Academy Islington

November

2nd – BARNSTAPLE – Factory
3rd – READING – Sun 89
4th – SOUTHEND – Chinnerys
5th – HULL – The Welly
6th – OXFORD – O2 Academy

Tickets: http://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/alien-ant-farm-tickets