Virtues

Virtues feels like The Hot One Two stepping into a new chapter with full confidence, the kind of album where you can tell the band isn’t second guessing anything anymore. From the moment it kicks in, there’s this push of adrenaline but also a sense of purpose, almost like they’re lifting the curtain on something bigger than just a follow up record. Where Superbia dug into the grit and chaos of the seven sins, Virtues flips the lens and brings a brighter, more defiant energy, but without losing the bite that makes their sound hit the way it does. It’s still loud, still punchy, still full of those grin inducing riffs, but there’s a clarity to it, a kind of clean fire that shows they’re evolving rather than just repeating what worked last time.

What stands out most is the balance. The guitars are huge and swaggering as ever, but nothing feels over polished, there’s still that rough edge that makes you imagine the sweat and stage lights of their live shows. The lead work keeps finding that sweet spot between melodic and reckless, sliding into solos that feel like they were meant to be played in front of a crowd that’s already half lost its voice. Meanwhile the rhythm section just refuses to ease up, the drums have that chest thumping, live room power, and the bass sits underneath everything like a heartbeat that doesn’t want to settle down. It’s tight, but not too tidy. Loud, but not messy. That’s the charm of this band and the album leans into it perfectly.

Simon West’s vocals feel more grounded this time too, still gritty, still carrying that classic rock edge, but with more control and more emotional range. You feel it in tracks like The Reaper where he’s going toe to toe with the riffs, and then again in the gentler moments like Distance Love Affair where he lets the song breathe a little. There’s a sincerity in the delivery that fits the album’s theme well, it’s less about doom and shadows and more about resilience, redemption, standing up straighter after getting knocked around. It’s refreshing without ever slipping into something cheesy or overly clean.

The real magic of Virtues is how it moves. Some tracks fly straight for the throat, others slow things down just enough to let everything sink in. Saint Restraint is one of those moments where the band pulls back the curtain a touch and shows a softer side, and it lands beautifully because it’s surrounded by these big, explosive doses of energy. Then you’ve got songs like Blow Your Mind that feel tailor made for festival crowds, the kind of hook that sticks whether you want it to or not. And by the time you reach For You, the whole album feels like it’s doing a victory lap not arrogant, just celebratory, almost like the band is turning to the listener and asking, “Did we take you somewhere? Did you get it?”

If Superbia was them planting their flag, Virtues is them building the foundations around it. It feels bigger, more intentional, more emotionally plugged in, and it honestly sounds like a band hitting the stride they’ve been working toward from the start. It doesn’t try to reinvent rock music, it doesn’t need to but it does capture everything that makes this style exciting when it’s done by a band who actually cares about the craft. Strong hooks, strong heart, strong identity. It’s a proper second album, the kind that shows growth without losing the spark that made you listen in the first place.

Overall, Virtues lands with confidence and clarity. A real step up, a real statement, and a record that proves The Hot One Two aren’t just writing songs, they’re carving out their space.