Harem Scarem has had a long career as a band that has not been untouched by controversy. They are one of those bands that changes up their sound every album or so, thus spawning a fresh spew of new fan debate with each release. They even split up for awhile, performed under the name Rubber in a radically different musical style before returning to the Harem Scarem banner. After their return to the name that made them famous, the band released four critically acclaimed albums in a row starting with Weight of the World and now ending in Hope. However, 1993's Mood Swings is considered the benchmark for anything they release and many speculated that this last disc would follow in it's footsteps and deliver a slice of melodic rock long past. That particular brand of hope will lead to nothing but disappointment for the true Hope that HM has released does nothing to shake the foundations that they have been building since Weight of the World.It's a solid album, indeed, and one that is blooming in emotion. Harry Hess's vocals continually remind one of Pretty Maids' and Pete Lesperance's guitars and keyboards are always a welcome companion to Hess' voice. It takes three songs for the album to truly find its footing. Watch Your Back is dark lashed and quite modern. There are thick riffs and an overall burdened feel that carries it as a moody uptempo song. Time Bomb continues the flow but injects a swifter, more melodic chorus. The title track Hope is moodier than the name would suggest, and kicks right off by a nice guitar bit from Pete. Days are Numbered sees the band finally moving into high gear. The chorus is instantly addictive, bursting like a water balloon that has been poked with a needle. Right in the center, it just gushes out and washes out that flickering beat that is the real heart of the track. There's actual meaning behind the lyrics, pushing the fact that you should live every day as if it were your very last. Waste nothing. Dark Times is an intense clash of sparkling choruses and harsh verses. Biting guitar nips at the heels of some anger heated vocals. Absolutely love the thunder thick rhythm guitars deplored here. Opening Beyond Repair is this bittersweet guitar, then it whips into a wicked rush of varying degrees of melody. The chorus is shining and bright, while the verses are thick and rumbling in velocity. Vocals are delivered in a daring dramatic fashion that is the steel frame for the song to rotate around. Never Too Late almost gives off a Mood Swings feel, but is still a few steps away from that kind of senses numbing glory. It has a more AOR influence and relishes in that sweeping, gigantic chorus that causes the track to just pop. Shooting Star has another magnificent chorus and some lovely verses in that ballad-esque range. A beautiful example of the dagger-in-the-heart twist emotional side of Harem Scarem. The chorus is just absolutely gorgeous and a painfully pretty assault on the senses. Calm Before the Storm crashes through like an angry hurricane, deep rumbling rhythm guitars, the vocals sweeping through like an aggressive south wind fuelled by intensity. Then there's a splash of melody for the chorus, which feels literally like the eye of the electric storm here. The guitar solo is a lightning strike punctuation, marking the middle in a scorch of heaven's fury. Nothing Without You is yet another killing ballad. Harry's voice is truly a magnificent thing to behold and is given free reign here. Vocal melodies are massive, the acoustic guitars give it a solid base to play out upon and then there's that chorus. It truly is just one of many tracks that make the price of admission more than worth it. There's just a hint here of Bon Jovi's Never Say Goodbye. Seriously... it's such a faint fragrance but a nagging one that keeps you feeling that flash of deja vu. Finally you get a acoustic version of Higher. It was a great song then and remains so even when stripped to the bare bones basics. Hess' vocals are enough to carry it, and the song's melody is strong enough to shine through without the added bonuses of an array of instruments to back it. Hope is the final Harem Scarem album (or so they say). Fortunately, it's a testament to their long careers as musicians and songwriters. The songs are (for the most part) emotionally memorable and there are a few high points that are just agonizingly wonderful to hear. The ballads especially pull out all the stops...and then some. They certainly continue the tradition of soul ravagers that started somewhere amongst the Mood Swings album. Shooting Star and Nothing Without You are contenders for songs of the year. An album of rejoicing and of sadness, the only regret is that this is the last. Living every day like there's no turning back.