This Ain't Your Typical Heavy: FieldHockey Delivers Something Special!
Written by Jesse James Smith
If you are an avid reader of the GKE reviews, you would know that I usually draw parallels from one band to their influences. I can usually hear the path that they are heading, or at least trying to head. This has been a consistent theme in my writing, until today. Hailing from Chattanooga, FieldHockey is a truly unique band that has been flying under my radar until now. Having releases stemming back to 2020, these guys really are putting creativity back into music and into the genre. Speaking of genre, I really am not sure where to put these guys! My best guess would be post-hardcore but not like Silverstein, more like Every Time I Die? See, they aren't fitting into a genre box and let’s dive into why.
The band has just released a new song titled “Taxes On Taxidermy” which is very 2008 of them. This song features Taylor Barber of Deathcore Icons Left To Suffer, which going into this blind I guessed this was going to be a downtuned, low tempo heavy band. I was wrong. The song starts with some feedback and a groovy guitar riff. As the drums kicked in, the groove got groovier but the heaviness didn’t! This is not a band thing at all, but it did catch me off guard. The vocal delivery on this track is a mix between raspy screams and cleans that resemble Incubus. This dichotomy was super interesting because in the background the music is still groovy and rockin’! This song is pretty meat and potatoes with the focus on the groove and vibe which they absolutely crush… until Taylor kicks in. A full switch up for the end triggered by a build up we’ve heard before followed by a pause where the drums have a slight yet effective transition. This is what we call the “ass beater” section. Coming out of nowhere, this section is iconic. Showcasing the talent of the band and the unpredictability of the band is by far one of my favorite things.
This song may not be for everyone, but if you’re into any music that rocks and has some screams then it 100% is. Across the board, FieldHockey crushes with this song and looking into them I’d say it’s their best song yet. It felt put together and throughout and most importantly, genuine. They aren't trying to fit in any genre or trying to be anyone. They are them and that’s why this is one of the coolest songs I’ve heard in awhile. 10/10.