Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Liar" by Hollow Heroes

By Bob Makin
originally published: 09/26/2025

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Liar,” the first of four singles from and the title track of Asbury Park-based Hollow Heroes’ forthcoming sophomore EP. PHOTO BY MARK KRAJNAK

Asbury Park-based Hollow Heroes have released as singles all but one of the songs from their forthcoming five-song sophomore EP, “Liar.”

The first, also the title track, is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Liar” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Sept. 26 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin, Mixcloud and RadioJersey.net.

The explosive, yet twangy, riff-driven rock anthem kicks off a bold evolution. Each band member took an active role in shaping the EP’s songs, resulting in a collaborative body of work.

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Born from personal and professional upheaval, the EP channels frustration, resilience, and defiance, all anchored by innovative production that unifies the set despite genre-spanning diversity that includes punk rock, post-hardcore, late-‘90s hard rock, and classic arena rock.

Throughout, the lyrics are inspired by family conflict, toxic work environments, and the resolve to move forward. Each song's structure balances chaos and clarity, allowing every track to hit with full impact.

Band co-founder CJ Palmisano’s virtuosic guitar work, inventive yet precise drumming by Tom Riccoboni and bass lines that pulse with momentum by James Romano highlight the band's cohesive musicality. Co-founding front man Alex White's vocal delivery is both explosive and intimate, making each track feel urgently alive.

Besides the title track, “Liar” features

* ”Drift,” an urgently deep progressive punk anthem

* “Refuse (Breakfast Beers),” a fun, upbeat blast of energy that breaks tension without losing momentum

* “Follow,” a riff-heavy, relentlessly driving live favorite

* “Finale,” the unreleased closer with soaring strings by producer-engineer Ben Karas, who helmed at his Frost Gauntlet Recording in Lyndhurst.

“The songs became both an outlet and a reckoning: capturing the anger and exhaustion of being pushed too far, while also wrestling with the sadness and regret of wishing certain things could have been different,” Alex said. “Each band member then brought their own song to the table, shaping the sound to match the weight of the lyrics — whether that meant leaning into grit, melody, or heaviness.”

James added, “The songs are all wildly different, so there’s something for everyone in there. You can tell we’re all falling into our roles as songwriters and musicians.”

Alex continued, “Fans tell us how our lyrics connect to their own lives. I love that our words resonate with so many different experiences. That’s what music is supposed to do.”

Together since 2020, Hollow Heroes released the seven-song debut, “Burn Another Bridge,” two years later.

The follow-up will drop Oct. 24 and be celebrated on Halloween at Debonair Music Hall, Teaneck, with a live show by the band. They’ll also play a live acoustic session on Oct. 17 at Asbury Park Vibes Studios.

In the meantime, enjoy the singles on Spotify or Apple Music.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].

About the author:

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New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

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