Bridgewater, Massachusetts’ THE HIDEOUT are a high-energy punk rock band that has likely listened to a fair share of A WILHELM SCREAM and NO TRIGGER recordings. I’m not complaining. The band’s debut self-released six-song EP, Patient. Unattended. is a quick and roughshod trip of gruff but melodic music with an unforgivably loud recording style. For whatever reason, the drums are jarringly placed way up in the mix with a tinny cymbal sound that leaks over everything else. It’s the equivalent of driving into a six inch pothole every 20 seconds. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by too many ultra-polished recordings, but these songs sound like they were recorded live in a single take in a storage locker with each band member elbowing for room. Audio qualms aside, THE HIDEOUT churn things up with many tempo changes and three different members contributing vocals, with the occasional poignantly sung verse coming into play. Serious, reflective lyrics complete the package’s surging yet souring mood. I’m betting that THE HIDEOUT do a better job of selling these songs in a live setting.

THE HIDEOUT – MySpace