Heartsounds
Drifter
Epitaph (2011)
RIYL: Strung Out, Bad Religion, A Wilhelm Scream
Score: 8/10
Over two decades ago, Bad Religion released their landmark album Suffer, changing the face of punk rock forever. Whether you think that’s good or bad is up for debate, but it’s impossible to deny the impact that the record had on the punk world, popularizing the mixture of complex solos and Beach Boys-influenced harmonies with an aggressive backbone of punk rock. Many bands continue to play music inspired by Suffer, and one of the latest, and best in recent years, is California’s Heartsounds, who just released their sophomore album Drifter on Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz’s Epitaph Records.
On their first album, Heartsounds’ guitarists and co-vocalists Ben Murray and Laura Nichol seemed content letting only the occasional metal-influence creep into their aggressive yet catchy skatepunk. The duo was coming off six years playing together in metalcore/death metal band Light This City and obviously wanted to avoid comparison while starting fresh. This seems to be less of a concern on Drifter, with songs like Uncomfortably Numb, Don’t Talk With Your Mouth Open, and especially Race to the Top featuring such technically stunning guitar work that the most veteran player would likely drop their jaw in astonishment at the complicated precision. If you’re an ax man, Drifter is your new bible, deserved to be studied top to bottom for the effortless way Murray and Nichol work complex, technical solos into their thumping, skatepunk anthems. The songs are rounded out by the equally talented rhythm section of Trey Derbes on drums and Kyle Camarillo on bass, providing the fast and tight beat that keeps the momentum going through the record.
As someone who is not a particularly big metalhead, I’ll be first to say that cool, calculated guitar lines and a singular, fast beat, while impressive, is an easy way to lose my attention after a track or two. Fortunately, Heartsounds is wise enough to borrow a page from the Strung Out playbook and balance the extraordinary musicianship with catchy vocal melodies, remarkable harmonies, and down-to-Earth lyrics. What really separate Heartsounds from the pack are the voices of Murray and Nichol, who lack the gruffness of many of their peers, singing in a clean style that lends itself well to a wider mass appeal. This is evident on excellent opener Every Second Counts, a quick introduction to the band that features Murray on lead vocals with backup from Nichol, her inimitable voice lower in octave than most of her female vocalist peers and the perfect complement to Murray’s powerful shout. Unconditional is another fast, Murray-led track, the optimistic cheer in his voice elevating the slight cheese in lines like “Once teenage punks so starry-eyed and young with a simple dream of never growing up” into an anthem.
The highlight of the album is the one-two punch of the title track and I Have Nobody to Betray, two songs that, while still aggressive, find the band at its most catchy. Drifter showcases the best of the band’s pop side with its bouncing drums and the great tradeoff between Murray’s and Nichol’s vocals. The riff during the verses is killer and kept to a more playful moderation, while the harmony of the chorus begs for repeat listens and loud sing-alongs. I Have Nobody to Betray is reminiscent of one of my favorite bands of the past decade, A Wilhelm Scream. The intro could be straight from Mute Print while Nichol delivers her best vocal performance to date, crafting a melody that is unique and instantly memorable.
Heartsounds is a band that knows what they do well and they continue to deliver it in a class above most of their peers. If you’re in the mood for some fast, fun, skatepunk, seek out Drifter immediately. Drifter is available now from Epitaph Records.
-Emily Matview
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