I must say, I have mixed feelings about Swedish hard rockers HOGGATAH. This five-pointed band plays riff-based metal, and has some ideas that are really cool and some that really aren't.

First things first, I'm completely ignoring the first track in this review, as it will dramatically decrease the band's rating - which is a shame because the rest is pretty decent.

Now for business; the dual vocalist approach (more commonly utilized beauty and the beast style in Gothic metal and its various offshoots) is very interesting to hear... however, I'm afraid to say neither vocalist is very good. The clean vocalist is fairly cool but has lots of problems hitting the right notes, and as for the growl one... his technique is great, but there's about one place in the entire record where it feels appropriate to the music it's growled over.

The guitar player's riffs are really cool - probably the only thing about this record I can say is good all the way through (well, 75% through). Cool riffs, some a bit on the generic side, but pretty cool nonetheless.

Rest of the rhythm section hasn't done anything to catch my attention, apart from a very, very cool bass lead in the last song - the kind that makes you wonder, if they can make something as good as this why don't they make everything like it.

"Happyplace" is the band's third release since their inception in 2010, and I must say that for a third release it's rather disappointing. Half-baked and immature sums it up mostly, I think - this band has some potential, but I hope they put in the real sweat and effort for their next release.<