Lost. Pursued. Fugitive anxieties bubble beneath billowing rock churn amidst frontman Dustin Allen’s anguished bay at life’s fraught complexities. The messy spill of emotions contrasts the crisp, clean modern rock lines of their sound, from Allen’s soaring keyboards to the sturdy chugga-chugga of Erik Hager and Jack McGinty’s guitars coursing through the foundation. It’s brawny but not bad ass, balancing arty rock sweep with the subdural groan of guitars, like a meal that’s not quite digested or a fuse still sputtering in the wind. Ache gnaws through the music like convicts digging toward Shawshank Redemption, pushing out against the roaring wall of sound in search of freedom or at least release. The first incarnation fell apart after a year due to some members’ lack of dedication. Discouraged, Allen left music behind to talk to people about their impending death. Suddenly he understood true discouragement. He discovered he wanted to give “starving artist” another try. Hope for the Hollow reconvened in August of last year, and it was almost like they’d never stopped. Bassist Ty Plas returned with drummer Lauderback as well as original guitarist McGinty. They’d shared the stage with Hager’s old band Cloud Nine Collapse before, then Hager played with the rhythm section of Lauderback and Plas briefly as hired guns in a reformed Burning Vegas. Though HftH’s sound is inspired energetic, emotive hard rockers like Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace and Finger Eleven, there’s another flavor deep in the mix. These seasoned songs include the slow grinding torment of “Misery,” over being the one left behind, and the biting table-turning kiss-off of “Medicine.” “The Fall” is one of the newest tracks, a dramatic hard-charging cautionary rocker whose winding guitar echoes addiction’s shadowy pursuit. The quintet’s presently wrapping up work with producer Ben Schigel on their debut EP. It features several previously unreleased tracks, which is has allowed them to hit ground wheels spinning. - Chris Parker Hope for the Hollow is a 5 piece Modern Rock/Pop outift from Cleveland/Akron, Ohio. Sounds like Breaking Benjamin, Anberlin, Three Days Grace, etc..