Lansing, Michigan; the very heart of Michigan State and a pivotal player in the US educational sector, housing a plethora of universities, law schools, medical schools and more…but what are they like with metal? That’s where today’s band comes in…let me introduce you to HEARTSICK. Having formed nearly 20 years ago, through a love of progressive metalcore and amidst the NWOAHM boom, the four-piece (Consisting of vocalist Alfonso Civile, guitarist Jerred Pruneau, bassist Waylon Fox and drummer Justin Robinson) have over time built a strong following stateside with their intense, unforgiving live shows, supporting big-hitters such as FEAR FACTORY and HATEBREED. As they unleash their newest album “Sleep Cycles”, we have to ask, can the lads from Lansing school US on the metal? Let’s find out…
The album opens up like Corey Graves’ wife with a track called “Affair” and it’s not long before we’re met with Alfonso’s visceral snarls, curling themselves around some deep riffs; the metalcore style prominent, as it switches up between subtle gang-vocal melody for the chorus and being instrumentally itching for the imminent breakdown. It ends abruptly but generally it’s a fairly standard though enjoyable metal track; a decent start. “Hate Anthem” keeps up the momentum with its primarily more thrash metal inspired sound; the tempo and intensity are all turned up a notch and in ways this harks back to early SLIPKNOT in its delivery; a proper head banger of a track this.
Given the quartets admiration for metalcore however it’s not always a swift smack in the mush as they are more than capable of incorporating ample melody within their instrumentation, especially on the latter half of the album. “Slave Labor” in particular with its hushed atmospherics, whispered vocal delivery and soaring, emotive chorus, almost combining anthemic indie rock with chilling metal aesthetics; it’s quite hypnotic. “Her Heart” is another and again, with the soaring clean vocals it adds diversity to their audible assault, while single “Love Letter” embraces a more sombre, chilled out post-rock approach, appealing to your inner emo with their own take on a heartfelt rock ballad; a genuinely touching track.
Ultimately “Sleep Cycles” is a fitting title as one minute it’s crushing and aggressively vibrant; wide awake and alert, but they know how to reel it back and soothe you too without managing to make you dose of completely, and they’ve balanced this out really well over the course of the thirteen tracks. Currently unsigned but, it’s hard to see why quite frankly (Unless it’s by choice of course), Heartsick know how to make you feel the feels and this is a solid record all in all…[7]
The album opens up like Corey Graves’ wife with a track called “Affair” and it’s not long before we’re met with Alfonso’s visceral snarls, curling themselves around some deep riffs; the metalcore style prominent, as it switches up between subtle gang-vocal melody for the chorus and being instrumentally itching for the imminent breakdown. It ends abruptly but generally it’s a fairly standard though enjoyable metal track; a decent start. “Hate Anthem” keeps up the momentum with its primarily more thrash metal inspired sound; the tempo and intensity are all turned up a notch and in ways this harks back to early SLIPKNOT in its delivery; a proper head banger of a track this.
Given the quartets admiration for metalcore however it’s not always a swift smack in the mush as they are more than capable of incorporating ample melody within their instrumentation, especially on the latter half of the album. “Slave Labor” in particular with its hushed atmospherics, whispered vocal delivery and soaring, emotive chorus, almost combining anthemic indie rock with chilling metal aesthetics; it’s quite hypnotic. “Her Heart” is another and again, with the soaring clean vocals it adds diversity to their audible assault, while single “Love Letter” embraces a more sombre, chilled out post-rock approach, appealing to your inner emo with their own take on a heartfelt rock ballad; a genuinely touching track.
Ultimately “Sleep Cycles” is a fitting title as one minute it’s crushing and aggressively vibrant; wide awake and alert, but they know how to reel it back and soothe you too without managing to make you dose of completely, and they’ve balanced this out really well over the course of the thirteen tracks. Currently unsigned but, it’s hard to see why quite frankly (Unless it’s by choice of course), Heartsick know how to make you feel the feels and this is a solid record all in all…[7]
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