Haunt : "Ignite"

Their  2022 album "Windows To Your Heart' was the last album I checked out by these guys. I was a devoted follower since, for all practical purposes, they are a revamped Beastmaker. But they have been moving in an increasingly slick A0R proto-metal direction. Things have not changed. Trevor Church continues to smooth into a sugary enor that brings Ghost to mind. It works on the opening song, but then feels bland on the second song. I can pretend this is not intentional, but some of the vocal harmonies on "Eventide" are. The guitars are firing off some pretty decent harmonies. But nothing about what they are doing is all that aggressive or dark. 

At their most metal these days, they sound like a mix of Dokken and the Scorpions on "Early Grave," which works just fine for me. It means the riffs are hookier and vocals more purposeful, but not anthemic. I like the effects on his voice here. There is less of a '70s sound and more of an '80s feel. For the most part, this seems to be working out pretty well for them, as they are not going to the total hair metal choruses. They do pile on the guitar solos when the chance opens up. There is a more pronounced Scorpions vibe to "Not the Same," though it's played faster than what they were doing at this juncture. They have refrained from power ballads so far, so that is positive. Though there is a formula they are following for when to introduce melodic elements to set things up for the guitar solo, that is in place.

"Shattered Past" starts off with guitar solos. The hooks are not as firmly planted on this one, even with the gang vocal on the choruses. With a title like "Long Cold Lonely Winter," you think they might drop the power ballad, but it is not the case. Instead, we get palm-muted riffs and harmony guitars. It is the lifeblood of this album. "With Our Angel" feels like late 80s Rush, but still works for me as I love 'Grace Under Pressure". The last song is a marginally darker take on the power ballad I had been anticipating the entire album, and they are effective at it, though you have to have a high tolerance for guitar solos. I'll give this album a 8.5, as it occupies a nostalgic space not many bands occupy well these days. If you want rock star guitar playing this album is for you. 

 

pst390