Local Review: Hourglass – Subconscious

Hourglass
Subconscious
Self-Released
Street: 06.01.2004
Hourglass= Rush + Sympathy X

Hourglass has crafted an album that can unlock one’s subconscious, no pun intended. Orem’s hidden scene has gems like Hourglass, a progressive rock/metal band that has been shaping the music landscape since the late 1990s. The ‘90s was the decade in which the band honed their genuinely one-of-a-kind sound. Hourglass, most successful in their first decade of music-making, has left an indelible mark with their unique sound, which is now available on all streaming platforms. 

Released in 2004, Subconscious is more than just an album—it’s a celestial journey, stirring feelings of the ethereal and the metaphysical. As their third release, it serves as a testament to the band members’ individual and collective abilities. “The Hammers Strike”, for instance, is a shining example of this, with its expansive instrumental followed by Cody Walker’s vocal harmonization. 

Brick Williams, the band’s founder and producer, is a guitarist who provides some extraordinary solos in “Silent Suffering”. John Duston’s percussion well accompanies these. This song finds a great way of expressing its lyrics in musical form: “The silent suffering’s all around you / It takes its place as it surrounds you / It hides its face from those who found you / It rides the waves in hope to drown you,” Williams sings, portraying how suffering can completely consume you and sees your silence as a way to cause an internal war between your mind and body. 

The versatility of this album is truly remarkable, as Hourglass seamlessly blends heavy guitar riffs, as heard in “The Soldier”. I would be remiss not to highlight “The Unbeliever” as we delve into more head-banging, neck-snapping guitar riffs. 

Towards the end of “The Unbeliever”, Williams and bassist Clark Woolstenhulme finish the song with an electrifying solo. This song then transitions smoothly into “Daddy’s Little Girl”, which has even more melodic riffs than the last two previous songs mentioned. 

If you are into cool, oscillating riffs that make it feel as if you are floating through space and time, “Widowed” is the song for you. It creates a beautiful cascading effect through its use of harmonization with all its instruments and vocals. This was a masterpiece to listen to and is pivotal in releasing sorrow and emotion from its composers. One interesting twist to this composition was Eric Robertson‘s particular keyboard solo—it tied all of the instruments together and created the perfect falling action for the song’s tone. “The Soldier Alive” was the denouement of the story. The album seems to follow some sort of storyline and provides perfect instrumentals to illustrate it. 

As I digress, Hourglass has many more albums yet to be dissected. Subconscious is a testament to the impressive skillset that Hourglass collectively showcases through their ability to mix progressive rock and metal. This unity creates a beautiful balance of harmonic melodies with a metal structure that gives them a unique sound. Hourglass also recently released Voids and Visions—give it a listen to see how much their music has changed and progressed. –Litzi Estrada

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