Tortured Loved Then Torched: A Gritty, Gnarly Ride Through Shadows and Sound
Hollow Hills’ Tortured Loved Then Torched isn’t your run-of-the-mill rock album—it’s a full-blown assault on the senses, drenched in doom metal grit and blackened fury. Released back in 2014 from the depths of Australia (yep, they do more than just kangaroos and Crocodile Dundee), this record is raw, unapologetic, and kinda feels like getting punched in the soul—but in a good way.
The band wears its influences on its sleeve—doom metal’s crushing weight meets black metal’s icy chaos—but somehow makes it their own. It’s like someone took all the darkest corners of human emotion, threw ‘em into a blender, and hit “puree.” Drum programming by Connor Macdonald sets the tone for tracks 1 and 2, giving that mechanical heartbeat under layers of sonic despair. No label backing? Doesn’t matter. This thing hits hard enough to stand on its own two feet—or six, if we’re counting the number of tracks.
Let’s zoom in on a couple tunes that really stuck with me. First up, “Intro (Forest Of Fear).” Now, intros are tricky—they can either grab you by the throat or leave you scrolling through your phone. But damn, this one does not mess around. The eerie atmosphere builds slow, almost hypnotic, like you're walking through an ancient forest where something's definitely watching you. By the time the distortion kicks in, you’re already hooked, questioning every life choice that led you here. It’s short but packs a wallop, setting the stage perfectly for what comes next.
Then there’s “A Dying Mind (Is A Demented Mind)”, which might as well be the soundtrack to losing your mind in real-time. The riffs are heavy enough to make your speakers cry, while the vocals sound like they were recorded in some haunted basement. What sticks out most is how chaotic yet controlled everything feels; it’s messy in the best possible way, like controlled demolition gone slightly wrong. You won’t forget this track anytime soon because it lingers, haunting your thoughts long after the last note fades.
Other songs like “My Alter Ego” and “Five Are Born (Over Populated)” keep the energy high, blending aggression with moments of unsettling calm. And let’s not skip over “Skin (Heat From The Shower)”, which sounds exactly like the title suggests—a claustrophobic, steamy nightmare that leaves you feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Now, here’s the kicker: listening to Tortured Loved Then Torched feels less like entertainment and more like therapy for people who hate therapists. It’s ugly, brutal, and oddly cathartic. If you’ve ever felt lost, pissed off, or just plain weird, this album gets it.
And hey, fun fact—if Hollow Hills decided to tour tomorrow, I’d probably sell my car to buy tickets. Not saying I would regret it… but yeah, I probably would.
