_{Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)}

Stirring up a sense of melancholy and relatability, HEAVENSGATE have a unique ability to deliver a sonic experience that you feel in the depths of the soul. We heard this with their first EP AND ALL I LOVED, I LOVED ALONE, the following singles and now we get to experience it again with their second EP A HEART IS A HEAVY BURDEN.

Ripping off the band aid from the jump, they do not hesitate to go all in with the opener ‘BURDEN OF BEING’. Vicious riffs and a driving beat, their unbridled aggression springs forth almost instantly. It is not overwhelmingly heavy though, instead it creates an atmosphere. Frontman Nazareth Tharratt is able to express himself so viscerally, from the lyrics to the very essence that his vocals embody. Solid start and it just keeps going from here.

The mood continues into ‘OBLIVION’ and it is the sonic equivalent of being slammed by waves. There is an urgency in the sound that is woven together with groove, almost frantic. Like being pulled back and forth between wanting to dance and wanting to throw fists, it highlights the beautiful complexity in HEAVENSGATE’s composition. The breakdown of course almost feels like a relief, a simple heaviness after the chaos…but then that little guitar squeal comes out of nowhere.

Seamlessly flowing into ‘RAIN’, a track that has been in my constant rotation since it dropped earlier this year. Continuing the frantic chaos, except this time there is no tug of war- the desire to collapse into violent expression is overwhelming. Despite this, it is not one of those songs that feels you with rage, more so it washes over you like a heavy catharsis. While there are little moments of groove and moments to have a breath, again, that ending breakdown comes a crescendo of brutality.

The atmospheric rain sound allows a moment of calm, before being plunged into the depths of melancholy. It is a real talent to be able to deliver such heavy blows and then serve up an angst soaked ballad that can be taken just as seriously. We get to hear the full depth of the talent that makes up HEAVENSGATE when you listen to ‘PETRICHOR’. If I hadn’t listened to this band before, this would be unexpected. Even though I am aware of what they are capable of, this track still astounds with me with it’s simple beauty, raw expression and sad but pretty sound. 

Continuing on, ‘DARLING BLUE’ heads more into the softer, almost a shoe gaze shimmer to what could also be described as a Deftones-core offering. There is a sense of romance, of longing…of 90’s teen moviesque longing. I feel lovesick, a sense of pining and a wish for that feeling of a simple, undiluted love to re-enter my burdened by the world outlook. I think this maybe low-key one of my favourite tracks on the release.

That feeling doesn’t stay long, as ‘A FAWN FLAYED’ kicks in to rip through you. The aggression hits even harder after these moments of sentimental relief. It’s ferocious, bold and unrelenting. The breakdowns take on a different flow though. Just when you think it hits the ending, the song erupts into an almost anthemic chorus of gut-wrenching emotion. Heavy but full of heart. Hitting us with the “A Heart Is A Heavy Burden” sample, the final eruption of sound in the form of a sick breakdown is like hitting the summit. It is a finale. It is complete. It finishes off this release satisfyingly.

There have been so many incredible releases this year, so I am worried that this one may get lost in the sea of huge names.

Which will be a real shame, because I will say this straight up:

This is one of my favourite EP’s of the year. 

10/10

A HEART IS A HEAVY BURDEN is out now via Pure Noise Records & Greyscale Records

Listen here.