This is the fourth album from Greyhaven, a hardcore band from the US.
I’ve been looking forward to this. 2022’s This Bright and Beautiful World placed second from the very top on my end of year list, and I loved catching them live at the start of the year. So, with this much expectation, is disappointment inevitable, or can the 41 minutes of music on Keep it Quiet rise to the challenge?
Yes. Yes it can, albeit in a slightly different way.
For Greyhaven, Keep It Quiet is simultaneously business as usual, and like nothing they’ve done before. By this I mean that it’s recognisably Greyhaven’s style, yet also something greater and different. Keep It Quiet is bigger, better, bolder, and more confident, with a more straightforward, chorus-led delivery. Not that Greyhaven have ever lacked in these qualities, but this new album exemplifies them. The band’s approach has shifted, and Keep It Quiet showcases a band that have creatively spread their wings and soared. As a rough summation, compared to its predecessor, overall it’s probably a bit more varied, a less aggressive and chaotic, more textured and nuanced, and definitely more song/clean singing/chorus-focused. Those damn choruses in particular hit hard, but then so does everything here.
Greayhaven still embody some of the best parts of bands like Every Time I Die, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Poison the Well, yet also still manage to avoid coming across like a copycat band in any way. I don’t know what it is, but Greyhaven seem to draw from the same source of inspiration and creativity as those legendary acts, but without sounding anything but fresh and invigorating. It doesn’t hurt that Greyhaven put more into their musical cocktail than simply my lazy references either; Greyhaven have their own identity that’s refined and well-formed.
These new songs combine the chaotic and the sublime, but always in ways that are controlled and rich in emotive depth. There are many well-crafted aspects of Keep It Quiet, from jagged guitars and inventive riffs, to the nuanced and engaging drumming, to the bass guitar which has a voice and presence of its own – a rarity for most bands. Of course, I have to mention Greyhaven’s stunning singer too, who continues to just get better and better.
This is a collection of songs that are designed to make a mark, and each one is a hit in and of itself. With a well-developed character and personality of its own, every track offers an insight into the Greyhaven experience, and all are essential to the overall record’s flow and delivery. Different songs emphasise different facets of Greyhaven’s sound, whether it’s angular metalcore or southern rock, or anything else. The common thread is one of high quality levels and a flair for charismatic songwriting.
So there you have it then – another raging, heartfelt success. Greyhaven have continued their ascending winning streak. Keep It Quiet is essential for any fan of modern song-based feeling-rich heaviness. Don’t miss out.
Wonderbox Metal 