Album Review: The Heard - The Island

Imagine if you will a land caught between dream and reality, where your senses can deceive you, where your very idea of self collapses in on itself. A land where anything is possible, and nothing is expected. Now imagine the soundtrack to that trip, and the unique combination of tones and notes that can capture the supernatural. It may seem impossible, but not in The Twilight Zone... sorry, I mean on "The Island".

Forgive my inner Rod Serling popping out there for a moment, but I couldn't help myself. Here we are examining the debut statement from The Heard, the new band featuring three members of the now defunct Crucified Barbara. They have brought in some new (and unexpected) blood, and delivered a concept album that brings us to that ethereal title land.

After the initial wash of sound, the first riffs that come through the speakers have a familiar vibe to them, sounding like a more laid-back version of Ghost's first record. There's that dark, slightly occult feeling the the guitar playing, and Pepper Potemkin's vocals are able to carry the same kind of echoing vibe that Johanna from Lucifer conjures up. Not everything is straight-forward, as a few brief moments of acoustic guitar pop up to add levity to the proceedings. It makes for a song that has anchor points, but drifts away from the straight line enough to keep you unsettled. It's a very good opening.

In fact, that band I just mentioned is a good discussion point. Lucifer released a very good record this year, and The Heard is treading similar ground. They do so in a more meandering, doomier fashion, but the core sound of the two bands is remarkably similar. So for anyone who liked "Lucifer II" (as I did), that is an indication that The Heard should be.... well, heard.

There are tracks that are heavier and more riff-focused, like "Tower Of Silence", and others where the band plays with their softer side, like the appropriately alluring "Sirens", but both approaches leave plenty of room for Pepper to reflect the mood in her voice. Both she and the band are able to show diversity to their approach, which is not just important to differentiate the chapters of the story they're telling, but for any band. Being able to do more than one thing, and not deliver the same song a dozen times in a row, is a sign that there is greater promise lying ahead than for more single-minded bands.

"It" and "Revenge Song" are among the highlights of the record, as each gets to show off the band's melodic side contrasted with the doomy riffing. The latter song, in particular, deserves plaudits for the way the backing vocals are able to give a ghostly sound that plays right into the mood the band is trying to establish. A few more of them sprinkled through the record would have been a nice addition.

Since the core of the band have been playing together for years, it might not quite feel like this is a debut, but every collective is a different beast. The Heard is not any of the members' former work, it is a group unto itself. And for a first statement, "The Island" is a very fine effort. There's been a lot of this doom-laced occult rock lately, and The Heard does it admirably. While it will be interesting to hear how much they try to stretch themselves in the future, the present is mighty fine. "The Island" isn't one you'll mind getting stuck on.