Known for their epic vocals, dirty guitar riffs, and hard driving drum beats reminiscent of bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Sloan and Wolfmother, Chicago’s Hollus brings all that and more with their six-song amuse bouche for the ears entitled PART ONE. Adding touches of chimey surf-rock to Michael Lux’s guitar, and turning up the bluesy nature of lead singer Jamison Acker’s vocals, the band produces a grimy, mix of blues and surf rock sound with plenty of attitude.

The six-song PART ONE, scheduled for a November 2 release, is the first of two EPs culled from 12 songs the band recorded earlier this summer. we’re still waiting for the release date for PART TWO, but PART ONE is quite a record in it’s own right.

Opening up with arena-rocker, “Midnight”, Hollus sets an impressive tone. Using gritty guitars, heavy driving drums and dirty sounding bass as a contrast to the swaying, chimey surf-rock riffs, Hollus displays extensive talent and control of their music right off the bat. Over it all is Acker’s vast, wailing, tenor voice and Lux’s blasting harmony.

Then there’s “Lucy Grey”, a catchy, rock piece that strays from their normal routine, but can still keep up with all the other massive sounding songs on the album. Mario Coletta’s drumming is impeccable as he seamlessly switches tempo throughout the song. Coletta’s skills are perfectly accented by Colin Mulhern’s driving bass, both setting the foundation for Lux and Acker to take it up a notch with fuzzy guitar riffs and freewheeling vocals.

“Lipstick” is another attention-grabbed that’s slow, sultry and dramatic. Acker builds his passionate vocals around thrashing guitar solos and clean, simple drums. Acker’s vocals peak as he growls, “Got you where they want you” again and again throughout the song.

Although this is just a taste of things to come, Hollus shows once again how much talent and control they can display while creating passionate blues rock with touches of fun surf riffs throughout. As creative as the bands that inspire them, nothing seems off limits for these Chicago rockers as they continue pump out the sweet jams.
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Catch Hollus on Tuesday, September 21, at Empty Bottle! Tickets are available right now at Ticketweb.com for only $7.
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Hollus -- “Songs That You Love” from PART ONE