Hydrogen Skyline - Only Shy Deer King

Hydrogen Skyline

Only Shy Deer King 
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Jerrica Tisdale

In 2012 Hydrogen Skyline, a Colorado Springs based band, formed. In their short band life, they've accomplished some major successes. In 2013 they won the "Best of the Springs" award. Hydrogen Skyline also has already played with such bands as Civil Twilight, Atlas Genius, and Abney Park. The band has been compared to Paramore, Metric and No Doubt, but their unique musical angles make them a hard band to box, which is a good thing. 

Hydrogen Skyline's sound is almost indefinable with roots in rock, pop, electronic, punk and indie. Their sound falls closest to the alternative rock genre. Hydrogen Skyline's musical arrangement blends soundscapes, instruments and vocals. Their recent EP Only Shy Deer King explores six tales of human complexities. It shows how relationships alter and define someone's soul, for better or worse. Three songs on the Only Shy Deer King really capture the essence of Hydrogen Skyline's sound, style and story. 

The band's mission statement comes across in their "They Say" track. Hydrogen Skyline is not about how you define them, but how they define themselves. Lyrically and instrumentally, it shows that the band refuses to fit into any tradition. It's a high energy, in your face track. This is mainly due to the guitar choices and vocals. 

"The Leaving" gives a softer side of Hydrogen Skyline. It's a tale of loss, longing and love with dark-nature imagery. It's the most theatrical song on Only Shy Deer King. The vocals on "The Leaving" really capture the lyric's passion and pain. It's chill inducing. "Paradise" takes on a mystic sound with its effects (e.g. soundscapes, layering, fast vocals, etc.). "Paradise" shows one of the continuous themes in the tracks on Only Shy Deer King: titles that have more complicated message and meaning than they seem. "Paradise" is about holding on to an idea of something perfect by fighting the reality of it. 

Hydrogen Skyline's Only Shy Deer King gives a majestic perspective on people's desires and fears. The band may be an indie-rock band, but they explore the deeper traditions of musical sounds and genres. Only Shy Deer King is a very engrossing album.

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