Haunt
Mind Freeze
Shadow Kingdom
Released : January 10, 2020
In recent years, there has been a rejuvenation of traditional heavy metal, and the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scenes – and I couldn’t be happier about it.
One of the front runners of this new breed would have to be Haunt, who have been fairly prolific with releases in a short few years of existence. Furthermore, everything they have released has been solid, and each release continues trending upwards. They keep finding new ways to better their previous output, which is quite impressive.
New album, Mind Freeze, is no exception to this rule. Haunt began as a solo project of Beastmaker frontman Trevor William Church. In just three short years, Church and Haunt have already produced two full-length albums, two EP’s and two splits.
Mind Freeze is the glorious sound of new expeditions explored and conquests sealed. Here, many of the trademark Haunt dynamics are firmly in place – compact songcraft, immediately memorable hooks, impassioned playing, an understated emotional element that elevates everything above mere party fodder. The band are finding yet more interesting twists to them. No more can one simply say that Haunt are but a modern iteration of NWOBHM or some-such.
See Also : Pissed Regardless “Imperial Cult” Review
The guitar work that Church creates is simply mesmerizing. Riveting and explosive riffing that echoes back to the glory days of traditional Heavy Metal. Opening with Light The Beacon – a track that elegantly sets the tone for what follows. It builds quickly into a perfectly flowing and melodic arrangement. Its chorus is an ear worm that will impregnate your thoughts and remain rattling about the brain. As catchy as the common cold, some might say. Accented by rollicking solos – this is a thunderous track.
The records title track is heavy of emotion – and the keys. There is a strong 80s feeling roaming about these tracks, and we’re talking the good sort of 80s vibe here. If we, as a society, must continue to drag back all the elements of that decade, then it should be that the music make a return, too. Don’t get me started on the fashion of that era and its return. I was glad to have escaped it once, and now it has returned to, ehm, haunt me. See what I did there? Yeah. I’m sorry.
Throughout this album, Haunt display a serious ability to craft fine hard rocking tracks. Bangers, I believe the term is. Of course, for anybody familiar with what the band has been putting out for the past few years, you know what to expect. True to former releases, albeit further polished and honed.
Haunt’s third full-length record, Mind Freeze, can be obtained in a variety of beautiful vinyl pressings, as well as on CD and digital from this location. Don’t hesitate. Get your copy now.
For Fans Of : Night Demon, Wytch Hazel, Spirit Adrift
Track Listing:
01. Light The Beacon
02. Hearts On Fire
03. Mind Freeze
04. Divide And Conquer
05. Saviors Of Man
06. Fight Or Flight
07. Have No Fear
08. On The Stage
09. Voyager
