I had the pleasure of reviewing Renee Heartfelt's last EP, Magdalene, and I have been looking forward to a full-length ever since. When their new record Death of the Ghost arrived in my mailbox, I was quite anxious to give it a spin. It has definitely been worth the wait.
For those not familiar with this band, Renee Heartfelt is one of the better post-hardcore bands around. Their first EP had a very strong Quicksand influence, with hints of a sound similar to Failure. With Death of the Ghost, these guys have toned back the Quicksand influence (though it is still present) and incorporated a much more soaring, melodic sound. I can still hear hints of Failure throughout the album, but now I hear a big Elliott influence. The vocals in particular have shifted in the direction of those of Elliott's singer, but nowhere near as whining and indecipherable. I'm also hearing a bigger influence from The Cure, with some of the slower, cleaner melodies.
This album still has the crunch of the previous release, but all in all it is much more dynamic. There are some very quiet and mellow songs. Some of the melodies are quite hypnotic, but never let you go numb. Renee Heartfelt are excellent songwriters and they know how to arrange catchy songs without being cliche. It seems to me that this band has grown into a more cohesive unit, because these songs are more focused and mature than I could have expected. This a driving, melodic rock album, but with a sensibility that lets the listener know that these guys have been living and breathing punk rock, for a long time.
The production on Death of the Ghost"is a good bit better than their previous release. The bass tone is much more clear and sharp, which gives the rhythm section added drive. The drums are much more powerful than I was expecting, but the snare tone seems like it could have a bit more snap to it.
Bottom Line: Renee Heartfelt has gone through a nice progression since their last release, and any fan of that material will enjoy this new full-length. This band has set the bar fairly high for themselves with Death of the Ghost and I hope they get recognized for it. My only hope for this band is that they can develop more of their own sound. Regardless, this is a great album that should appeal to anyone who enjoys melodic rock. |
