hydrogyn – deadly passions (2008)

note this name down if you’re in the mood for some heavy-oriented, solid hard rock. so was i about an hour ago (yeah, that does happen from time to time), and as this (good) music played, i began wondering, why not to pay these guys their due?
deadly passions is hydrogyn‘s sophomore release. all i need to tell you about them is that they’re a four-men-and-a-chick combo hailing from the US, and they do know the tricks of their trade. further bio details would be out of place here. what you really need to know is, they’re a very nice choice if you’re thinking of letting some good hard rock shake up your player. heavy, fast (not furiously), easy-listening and definitely not demanding in terms of attention – hydrogyn’s music is pretty simple, and although it has nothing impressive or very original, it comes as a breath of fresh air if you usually listen to more complex stuff.
although i enjoy this kind of music, i’m not a huge fan of the likes, so there might just be better in the genre out there. all i know is when i’m in the mood for blasty rhythms and gruffy but melodic vocals (well yeah, or i’d be reviewing some arch enemy‘s), hydrogyn is always a nice pick.
the cheesier pieces are almost completely left out (a partial exception being the closing track’s first half, and the balladesque “over u”), which is not bad, given what you should expect as you put this album on. the choruses are quite catchy, the songs are short enough to provide some variation throughout the album, and though it’s hard to really speak of “high peaks”, you may as well find your own highlights on deadly passions.
mine will have to be the title track, “seroquil”, and the second half of the closing “shadow” – a song which is actually made up of two very different sections, hence this difference. there’s no particular reason why i’d pick these, nor why they should meet also your preferences. one thing’s for sure: if you like one song, you’re gonna like them all. it’s not even possible to dub the album as one of those “hate it or love it” things: it’s really just about the mood you’re in. if you’re up for something grand and brainy, move on. but if/when you wanna let your mind wander on imaginary highways and whatever rocky cliches you can think of – then deadly passions will serve as a good background music.
some might even find their sound a bit too “polished”, but i don’t see how that would be a downside. so just forget about the previous line and go get hydrogyn for your next mind ride on rocky roads.

thus spake the cennsor: 7/10