Manchester trio The Hara are set to release their second full-length album on the 23rd January, and it is a serious eye-opener.
“Trophy” opens the album with Taylor’s pleading vocals before it bursts into life with a thunderous drum beat and chugging riffs, which then drops back to a slow beat as Taylor delivers a sombre verse before exploding at the chorus. In contrast, a heavy beat runs underneath it, a solid way to kick things off.
“Easier To Die” comes out swinging with a gritty riff and drum beat as Taylor screams into life, slowing before it even gets a chance to get going, but that is to lure you in as this hits like a truck with a pounding drum beat creating a savage groove, this is a banger track and the funky riff that plays at the breakdown is deadly. “Monster & Demons” has a defined electro beat when mixed with its pop-punk feel, giving you a massively heavy sound. The groove these guys create is phenomenal, a cracker of a tune. “Twist The Arrows” is a monster tune, opening slowly before a crushing beat comes in. Taylor puts in a monster shift on the vocals, going from hushed tones to balls-out screaming, backed by killer guitar work from Breen and Kennedy’s brutal drum beat. This is one of the best tracks on the album. “Stay” is another slow-burner, a feature of the album that builds slowly to a crescendo; the drums once again propel the track, and Breen’s savage riffery is brilliant, while Taylor gives another impressive performance.
Blurring the lines of genres,” The System” mixes techno, metal and pop punk, which may sound a little out there. Still, it is a seriously kick ass track, Taylor snarls throughout with a banging drum beat from Kennedy and Breen’s savage guitar work backing him up, all with a techno beat running in the background. This is a real highlight. “Psycho Killer” is straight out of the nu metal playbook, but with an unearthly heaviness that resonates big time. There is a slight reprieve when the chorus hits, allowing everyone to draw breath. The hypnotic “Physho Killer” at the backend of the track will stick in your head long after the track is done, a mega track. “Kings” opens with a nice melodic feel as Taylor croons; it has more of a mainstream pop vibe, but with heavy guitars, it’s a decent enough track. The ballad like opening on “Bury Me” lures you in before the chorus brings the track to life before calmness is restored but with a drum beat running behind it adding a bit of heft, the track see saws back and forth but more so in the last minute as Taylor goes from manic screaming with a backdrop of cutting riffs and drums to a clean softer approach on the vocals, a stunning track. “Violence” has a bouncing rhythm which creates a serious groove that drives the track, featuring Bethany Curtis, As December Falls, both herself and Taylor are the perfect foil vocally as they try to do each other out, a killer track, one of the best on the album. “Intergalactic Sabotage” changes tack again as they go for a slightly lighter, more nu metal style number, more upbeat than previous tracks and a fair dose of electro, an absolute earworm this one, it’ll be in your head for days.
The album closes with “Enemy”,; bringing the heavy back with a thumping beat that will rattle your bones, they really get the power; it breaks midway through for a brief gasp of air before it all descends into chaos that runs to the end.
This is a truly exceptional album and well worth a listen.
THE HARA will release their new album The Fallout on 23 January via Mascot Records
Review: Conor
Track List
1. Trophy
2. Easier To Die
3. Monsters & Demons
4. Twist The Arrows
5. Stay
6. The System
7. Psycho Killer
8. Kings
9. Bury Me
10. Violence (feat. As December Falls)
11. Intergalactic Sabotage
12. Enemy
13. Bury Me (Piano Version) *
* physical exclusive
The Hara are:
Josh Taylor Vocals
Zack Breen Guitar
Jack Kennedy Drums
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