Havelocke

Arsonist

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Genre: Emo, Post-hardcore.
Released: 13/04/2021
Via Silent Cult

EP Review: Havelocke – Arsonist

Havelocke is here to bring the fear with their new EP ‘Arsonist’. It’s a blend of Emo and Post-hardcore that has a hint of apocalypse sprinkled in for good measure. The Sheffield based band have found quite the following with their latest single ‘When We Go’ already amassing over 7 thousand views on Youtube. So without further adieu, here’s what I thought of Havelocke’s ‘Arsonist’.

The EP starts with ‘After Dark’. Owen Cousins vocals really steal the show on this opening track. From his gritty opening to his overwhelming screams, It’s clear to see he is a talented vocalist. The instrumental compliments his prowess nicely and gives off a very emo esc vibe. I think the way ‘After Dark’ flows perfectly into ‘Vampire Eyes’ is something that isn’t done enough anymore. I can’t help but find myself zoning in on Jack Taylor’s drumming throughout this one. The speed of his fills and the precision of each strike of the snare is something that can often be overlooked in a song however he absolutely nails his part in this track. This is certainly one I would have to recommend to any percussionist out there. 

Up next is the title track of the EP ‘The Arsonist’. I really like this song musically however it seems like the guitar parts could do with being mixed a little louder as there are sections in this song where the are completely overshadowed by the drums and bass. This is a real shame as the riff’s being played by Owen and Hope Thackray sound really powerful and impactful. It’s a real shame that they do fade into obscurity at times as this song had the potential of being the best on the whole EP.

The penultimate song ‘100 Seconds’ seems to have rectified the slight mixing issue that was present in the previous song. The song itself is one hell of a track. The melodic phrases played on the guitar sound phenomenal and Owen once again sounds incredible throughout this track. Jacob Clark and Hope’s backing vocals really make the song feel larger than life which is why this is my top track from the entire EP! The final song ‘When We Go’ features an infectious beat and one hell of a vocal performance once again. Not to mention just how perfectly the guitar parts and bassline complement each other. Everything falls into place nicely during this tack and it makes for a really strong end to the EP.

Havelocke have produced an awesome EP and shown that they have all the potential in the world to make it in the music industry. A refreshing take on the Emo genre with heavy influences from Hardcore and metalcore to be heard throughout. I highly recommend this if you are a fan of either of the genres just mentioned! The future looks bright for Havelocke and I’m strapped in for the ride.