MEET ME HALFWAY, AT LEAST

Deaf Havana

(A Wolf At Your Door Records, 2009)

Subtly filtering through the UBSU Sub Club’s PA system, ‘Friends Like These’ has one hell of a sugary pop feel to it, not to mention one bloody hell of a hooked chorus. Just who is responsible for such a nod to pop-rock? The answer: Deaf Havana. Really? The band that’s impressed with past live appearances at DTA shows in Luton, Bedford and Hertford? The band that’s a little bit Gallows-esque hardcore, and a little bit post-hardcore? Wow. Now there’s a surprise.

Okay, so the lead single isn’t exactly what we’ve come to expect. Sure the King’s Lynn quintet has always had the tendency to throw some pop goodness into the mix, but this is something else. Meet Me Halfway, At Least , the band’s debut full length, however proves slightly less of a departure. For a good portion of the album the band sticks to the melodic hardcore sound that’s been positively commented upon in these parts before. ‘Right Now, I’m Anyone’s’ and ‘Waves’ are amongst those tracks that mangle beastly vocals with pummelling guitars whilst throwing in those sweet choruses. You wouldn’t be wrong for thinking the band has been hanging out with DTA faves, Proceed, of late.

‘Nicotine and Alcohol Saved My Life’ proves to be one of the album’s stand-out tracks, a melodic, atmospheric and emotional wedge that hints at the likes of Alexisonfire (and includes the glorious line, “If I was to have just one more day I’d make sure to spend it without you”. Ouch!). The track is followed by ‘Another Day In This House’, a song that fully emphasises how much the pop vocal and pop element has infiltrated Deaf Havana’s sound. This is on the verge of following Lostprophets’ example and ploughing every last iota of danceability into a tune. It still manages a good, stomach-clenching screaming vocal though, so all is good.

Undoubtedly there’ll be accusations of bandwagon jumping with this release. Yes, this is a different band from 18 months ago, but the progression comes across as mostly organic. That’ll be a mute argument then. From this point of a view, double thumbs-up for not simply making It’s Called the Easy Life: Mach 2. Does the record though have enough to stand-out from the pack? Certainly there’s sufficient here to raise the band’s profile. Very well produced, sounding crisp with a sound worth checking out, it’ll be the harder edges that give Deaf Havana the potential to grow. If the pop seeps in too far there’ll be no difference between this and a multitude of others. Keep those angry, fierce and formidable moments of brazen hardcore and things will be interesting. For now, Meet Me Halfway, At Least is well worth a listen (actually, more than a few listens) and makes for an interesting proposition next time around live.

Meet Me Halfway, At Least is available now from http://www.wolfatyourdoor.com or http://www.myspace.com/deafhavana. Deaf Havana may, or may not, be playing a DTA show close to you soon.