Rare is an album that was born after Myrtle Beach, SC hardcore outfit Hundredth had—in frontman Chadwick Johnson’s words— “drained their ‘hardcore’ vein” on the previous record, Free. However, for a band seeking a new path, rather than seeming lost, Hundredth are steadfastly focused and cohesive on this transitional record.
Rare has a mellow shoegaze-influenced sound, which is starkly divergent from what had been up until Free Hundredth’s core musical style. This sound is very specific, having an eighties Gothic rock sensibility with moody but melodic guitars. When these guitars erupt into violent chords, they don’t sound heavy or gushing, but rather like a serene mist of noise. The drums have a feisty pep, bordering on the tenacity of industrial rock percussion, even sounding like drum machines at times. With this rhythmic intensity and a musical moodiness that’s enshrouded in melodiousness, Rare resembles the tenebrous rock music of The Sisters Of Mercy or (The Sisters’ offshoot band) The Mission UK that can be danced to.
Johnson sings words like a shoegaze singer and can barely be understood. Although his shyness suits the overall atmospheric feel of Rare, it is also prone to getting monotonous.
This monotony can be extended to the music as well, as Hundredth are laser-focused on this new musical direction, to a fault. And in an album where maintaining a specific ambience is favored over creating distinct hooks or taking musical detours, the songs tend to be unidentifiable from each other. This doesn’t make Rare any less captivating, but it does make the record less than perfect. One exception is “Departure,” the album’s best song, the group tries out a distinct chorus, a memorable melody, and a slowed down tempo. A close second is “Shy Vein,” with its hummable chorus and noteworthy spacey synth parts.
As Johnson put it, “we didn’t want to keep doing the same thing over and over. Churn out a ‘safe’ record to keep the train moving and food on the table…” This sentiment behind the inception of Rare might be one of uncertainty, but Hundredth appear damn certain. This album is not a vehicle for a band to simply venture outside its comfort zone, but an album that finds the band as comfortable outside its comfort zone as in it.
