Have Heart
Songs to Scream at the Sun


4.0
excellent

Review

by guitarplaya91 USER (26 Reviews)
July 7th, 2008 | 113 replies


Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Combine Minor Threat's straight edge lifestyle with Modern Life is War's epic song writing, and you have Have Heart's "Songs to Scream at the Sun."

“Songs To Scream At The Sun”


On August 8th, 2006, HAVE HEART crept up and attacked the entire hardcore scene with their debut album “The Things We Carry.” The band’s first full length received positive feedback, many hailed it as the “Hardcore Album of the Year.” HAVE HEART had not only successfully created a name for themselves but for hardcore in general. Few other bands at the time were producing such energetic, youthful, honest songs at the time. The well respected straight edge five-piece from Boston, Massachusetts created one of the most faithful fan bases across not only the nation, but across the world. They were destined to be popular from the very start. Now they bring us their second full length, “Songs To Scream At The Sun.” In most cases sophomore albums are the major factor in determining whether or not the band will progress or fall apart. HAVE HEART has succeeds in creating the most personal, the most dark, and the most meaningful hardcore album written in recent years.

While hardcore itself has progressed and changed in the past 3 decades, the message has still remained true. HAVE HEART could have wrote a generic album about how they hate their jobs, or politicians, or their relationships, but instead they focus on what means most to them: their straight edge lifestyle and one influenced them to live a life of purity. Bostons is essentially a summary of the album. This song delivers some of the personal and powerful lyrics ever put into a hardcore album:

“o' your friends say boston's beautiful,
but they didn't live hard, they didn't die hard
when sons dragged out their fathers from bars.”

Not since Minor Threat started the straight edge movement, has it been so well delivered. The lyrics come out like poetry, as if it being preached, but not begged. Honestly, I can’t remember the last hardcore song that has delivered such a powerful message in three lines.

Not only are the lyrics progressing, but also the song writing itself. While HAVE HEART has always had their distinctive style, they have strayed away from flat out hardcore, and it has vastly improved their sound. Their sound is more spine chilling and epic then ever before. The last album I heard that truly gave me a serious case of the goose bumps was Modern Life Is War’s “Witness.” On “Songs To Scream At The Sun,” HAVE HEART is not outfit to create such a unique sound, but they accomplish it very well. Instead of the same fast paced drumming, and lighting fast rhythm guitars, the slow it down, while still remaining as heavy as they did on their previous effort. There are no traditional breakdowns or 2-steps on this record, as they focus more on delivering a message, rather then fitting the mold. Whether it be the clean guitar intro to Hard Bark On The Family Tree or the vocal solo on The Same Sun the band is able to create a monumental piece of work while still remaining true to their hardcore background.

Overall, HAVE HEART’s “Songs To Scream At The Sun,” is not only going to be a strong contender for “Hardcore Album of the Year,” but it is arguably the best hardcore album in recent years. The only thing prevented this album from being a classic, is the fact it clocks in at around 21 minutes. You will find that this album goes by very fast, and in the blink of an eye it is gone. However the unfortunately short 21 minutes is packed with memorable songs, no fillers, meaningful lyrics, epic songwriting, and a message that is so strong it will make a binge drinker put the bottle down.


4 / 5



Recent reviews by this author
Direct Hit! Brainless GodRVIVR Dirty Water
Jawbreaker Dear YouTitle Fight The Last Thing You Forget
Ceremony (USA-CA) RuinedWell, Hello. Summer Sessions EP
user ratings (612)
3.9
excellent
other reviews of this album
Serpento (3)
Come listen to the ballad of a brocore band that doesn’t have (or necessarily need) bros....

ThePalaceOfWisdom (2.5)
YAWN....



Comments:Add a Comment 
CushMG15
July 8th 2008


1810 Comments


Listened to this the other night. It was pretty decent, but I didn't pay a lot of attention to it. Pave Paradise is pretty awesome.

Oh yeah, reviews good.This Message Edited On 07.07.08

noneckjoe
July 8th 2008


6 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

This album is pretty good, but definitely not a 4.5. This songwriting isn't half as good as Modern Life is War, though.This Message Edited On 07.07.08

walletCRACKED
July 8th 2008


21 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I could see this as album of the year

beans
July 8th 2008


2328 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

i remember hearing the things we carry a while ago and liking it, ill check this out sooner or later

204409
Emeritus
July 8th 2008


3998 Comments


I was impressed but not this impressed with this release.This Message Edited On 07.07.08

br3ad_man
July 8th 2008


2126 Comments


I enjoy this band, I'm interested in hearing this record.

204409
Emeritus
July 8th 2008


3998 Comments


Also, btw breadman nice to see you posting more.

br3ad_man
July 8th 2008


2126 Comments


Thanks.

BuddyBigsby
July 8th 2008


531 Comments


Stupid review.

BuddyBigsby
July 8th 2008


531 Comments


LOL though

Damrod
Moderator
July 8th 2008


1093 Comments


I must confess that I started giving this one a listen for a few times, but never really made it beyond the third track or so. "The Things We Carry" got me much faster.

New Verse owns this CD though, from what I heard so far of both albums.

guitarplaya91
July 8th 2008


485 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

the new verse record is really sick, might review that soon.

poisonthewhale
July 8th 2008


3 Comments


I bought this album the day it came out and did not have the same feeling about it that you strongly do. It sounds like one of the guitarist left and was replaced by someone not as skilled and the vocalist decided to pull away from the style that fans listen to them for. I love straight edge hardcore which from the get-go is supposed to be short fast energetic and meaningful. But they tried too hard or too little and came out with something that I feel is not as good as the first two albums. The lyrics are very good but not as good as you make them out to be. Maybe a 3.5 at most.

walletCRACKED
July 8th 2008


21 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeahhh the new Verse album is amazing! Anybody who likes good hardcore should definitely go get that album as well, its really good

guitarplaya91
July 8th 2008


485 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

after listening to it all day, i've changed my rating to 4.

ant4tbc
July 10th 2008


373 Comments


3 cheers for straight edge kids!

:P

Dancin' Man
July 25th 2008


719 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Verse and MLiW are both way better. Good drummer here though.

CushMG15
August 11th 2008


1810 Comments


I don't find this nearly as powerful/impressive as you do, but its fairly solid. I'm not much of a fan of straight up hardcore, so that has something to do with my judgement.

Also, last line of the review is pretty corny. Otherwise, you did a good job.

yourreviewsucks
August 15th 2008


1 Comments


i support you writing reviews for every good band on here.
this album has no competition in being the best album in general of the year.

guitarplaya91
August 16th 2008


485 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

^ i don't know about that dude.



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy