Seahaven
Winter Forever
Run For Cover Records (2011)
Sounds like: modern post-hardcore with post-punk and hardcore aesthetics
Score: 6/10
I’ve been following Seahaven since 2010 when they formed from the remains of CA hardcore band Final Fight. Taking influence from Brand New and Jawbreaker, I was bound to love them, and their Ghost EP was one of my favorite releases of that year. I couldn’t wait to hear more. Their first full-length, Winter Forever was released in November of 2011, with adequate hype this time thanks to the success of Ghost and their exhaustive touring schedule. It was anticipated by many, but could it deliver? Unfortunately, I think it missed the mark.
Winter Forever kicks off with the song “Goodnight,” which picks up right where the band left off. Singer Michael Soto begins with the lyrics, “goodnight my love, my lovely love/goddamn shame to be at traitor/I’ve got God in a shoebox under my bed waiting for a finger,” which ingeniously foreshadows the despondent mood of the rest of the record. Winter Forever is chock-full of catchy choruses and songs like “It’s Over” and “End of the World” feature Soto’s signature unique, yet sincere, vocal style. The slightly twangier nature of the vocals on this record gives it an edge in a genre full of auto-tuned, dull voices.
Instrumentally, the band hasn’t strayed away from the seeds they planted on Ghost. Powerful, distorted guitars lay the foundation for subtle leads. The dynamic nature of more upbeat songs such as “Thank You” and “Understanding” make them the more memorable tracks on the record. Other songs such as “Slow Down” and the beautiful acoustic ballad “Honeybee” display the band’s versatility in sound.
Now, you may be saying to yourself, “judging by what this guy is saying, this sounds like it could be record of the year!” Not exactly. The major flaw in Winter Forever is that a good chunk of the songs are forgettable. Songs like “Black and White” and the album’s surprisingly mundane closer “PV” are just a few examples. I found myself zoning out each time I listened to the record and quite frankly, I was disappointed. They seem to have alternated their catchier and more memorable songs with the less interesting of the bunch, resulting in an inconsistent and ultimately unsatisfying listening experience. I’m left with the feeling that this would be a much stronger release if Seahaven had cut some of the lackluster tracks and released this is an EP instead.
But even with all that being said, I still won’t blow this band off just yet. Seahaven has shown their potential for truly amazing music and I’m still eager to see where they go from here.
-Ian Caramanzana
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