I think this one will always have a place in my heart, for it having been premiered on the first LP show I ever went to. That was definitely not on my bingo card This is such a fun banger, that keeps its sense of urgency from beginning till end. I also like that despite it being a short straightforward song, it offers different distinct atmospheres : the modernized 90's hip hop verses (with a cool bass line!), the eerie pre-chorus, the punky chorus, the industrial/modern metal breakdown. I've seen it described as nu-metal, but I wouldn't fully agree with that label. It's definitely a rap-rock track, very reminiscent of their earlier stuff, but I think the modern production, the synth work, and the guitar tone make it quite distinct from the average run-of-the-mill nu-metal. I'm glad the album has more to offer in term of styles, but I'm also glad this track exists!
This might be my least favourite on the album next to Over Each Other. It's trying to be the new Faint so unabashedly but leagues below Faint.
The tie to League of Legends will always add another layer to why I’m soft on this song, and the fact that T1 won the World Championship again with this track as anthem. Seeing the League fan base sprout a vocal minority pointing out the unprecedented aspect of the band sharing the narrative in the video while other anthems had been much more thoughtful of the players really, really stuck with me, being an avid fan of LP, LoL, AND T1. T1 has deserved a more thoughtful tribute for a long time so the fact that they pulled it off really spared the song and experience for me, personally. That, and seeing League-side soften big time for the live performance was fantastic. The raw energy and “No playback???” caught a massive crowd accustomed to padded K-Pop (still good!) performances way off guard. I think the mood of the synth embodies a feeling of “Free-for-All” so well that I honestly don’t like to compare it Faint. The rap doesn’t rise much higher than boilerplate, but as far as scathing shadow-boxing about picking your battles go, it’s more than solid. I remember its aggressive pace catching me off guard, too. That pre-chorus/pre-bridge is the only breath of fresh-air, and man, to me it feels like a zen clear of the head before bearing down on your deepest resignations and going to war. The scream over that nasty guitar line and drums is perfect and the fact that they cut it short of “Given Up” length on purpose? Tears. Straight tears.
Solid and catchy chorus, the drums and guitars bring some great energy to the song. I'm a bit over this style of Mike's rapping, tho, so ya hate to see it. I do also feel like this is just a more mid copycat of Faint. In all, don't think I'll be coming back to this song much. 55/100 The Arcane Soundtrack version tho??? Inject that shit in my VEINS! 92/100 too short
I will admit, that Arcane version is really cool. A fuller version of that would have more staying power for me, too.
It’s not a bad song but it’s the “generic LP rap rock” song and it’s done so much worse here than say “Wastelands” or “Bleed It Out” for example. Mike’s verses sound like leftover vague motivational raps he left in the vault for a video game/movie from 2005 and was like “I can use these now.” And the chorus is pretty generic imo. I do at least like Mike’s flow but damn, I rather just listen to Faint.
I like many things in WasteIands (mostly about the instrumental) but I think HITC flows more smoothly, and has a better chorus. Not counting Two Faced, I would in fact argue that HITC is the best rap-rock song they've made since Wretches and Kings, and in term of "banger" rap-rock song, the best they've made since... Faint.
I think Mike’s rapping had more much more interesting rhyme patterns and vocabulary on Wastelands but I think I prefer HITC instrumentally. To me, “Lost In The Echo” is the strongest classic formula rap-rock track they’ve done post-Meteora.
Well I was considering Lost in the Echo before writing my post, so I can see where that comes from LITE is really solid too. I do enjoy HITC more at the moment, but the novelty probably plays a part in it.
For real tho. Mike’s delivery, rhyme schemes, the instrumental, Chester’s crazy melodic chorus, the bridge, fuck…that is how you open an album. Hey, more love to HITC. It’s still a dope song. I do like Mike’s “waving the sword but the pen won’t miss” bar and Emily is giving a great performance.
I like it, the synth in the beginning is amazing and Emily crushes it, but what prevents me from loving it is the fact that is SO much a Faint 2.0. It's a 6,5 nearing a 7/10, while Faint is a 9
What really helps HITC stands on its own against Faint for me is the production. Meteora production has aged a bit and not always gracefully, while HITC has a lovely modern sound to it. I specifically enjoy the verses of HITC a lot, and how the bass, the sample, and the drums compliment each other. I also think HITC covers more ground than Faint in term of sound design. There is more variety to it. But Faint chorus is still the boss.
I also think the Arcane version made the song much less enjoyable. I could still jam to it now and then, but it's definitely one of my least favorites.
HITC works in the tracklist like a charm. The bridge hits like a tons of bricks, when there hasn't been any real screaming or very low heavy guitars on the album before. It wouldn't work the same way after Casualty for example. Strategic position.
I think Mike has referred to it as a sample. I know in an interview he has talked about how he made the original sound, but then they took it and did a lot of different stuff to it. I would say it qualifies for the terminology, not that anyone will really take offense either way you talk about it haha. I haven't intentionally listened to this song in a hot minute, maybe I should after relentlessly targeting it in Hurt and Heal