Deaf Havana
All These Countless Nights
(SO Recordings)
Deaf Havana have had a long and interesting journey. Like so many British alt rock groups before them (Lower Than Atlantis, We Are The Ocean, etc.), Deaf Havana began life as a post-hardcore group. However, in part because original vocalist Ryan Mellor left after one album, the band has since evolved over time into something truly special. The change wasn’t immediate, and the two previous records certainly exhibited some growing pains, but Deaf Havana have finally gone from post-hardcore caterpillar to the kind of life-affirming, heart-wrenching alt rock group that has fulfilled all their potential. They’re a sort of Americana-styled roots rock with a nice dose of punk bravado.
Their sound recalls a lot of well-regarded acts (Jimmy Eat World, The Gaslight Anthem, Lower Than Atlantis), but it’s the growth of vocalist James Veck-Gilodi that is most impressive. First, Veck-Gilodi’s lyrics are truly powerful, as he laments on the ways he’s made mistakes in his life and has a sort of wistful sense of hope in bringing about the growth he wanted to see in himself. His lyrics feel deeply personal and have a very literary quality to them, yet their relatability and passion help elevate them even further. You can feel his frustrations and ambitions, and you certainly want to bellow along with these choruses (they’re so good). Sure, there are some solid riffs, and the songs always feel like they’re building toward something truly massive, but the stories told on All These Countless Nights really augment the experience.
Ultimately, this is quite an achievement for a band who tackled adversity (internally and personally) and allowed that to bring out the best in them. It took some solid but uneven records to get here, but All These Countless Nights is an ode to resilience and power we all have in us, the search for greatness. Get swept in this gorgeous record and enjoy the ride. Also laugh at how the best Americana-styled alt rock record came from England.
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