ALBUM REVIEW: Haunt – Mind Freeze

Classic Heavy Metal revivalists HAUNT have been setting the world ablaze with a series of well-received releases. Back with yet another full length, I am certainly ready for nostalgia and epic 80s vibes. Out on January 10th via Shadow Kingdom Records.

Sci-Fi synths bring in the album with full nostalgic feel, something that can also be said about the gliding drums and soaring guitars with a thundering bass line, all ready to back up powerfully sung vocals and the full package of Haunt is complete, ready to destroy. With plentiful melodic flourishes and a fun, upbeat pace to the music, this is exactly what I wanted to hear from the American Metallers, doing their thing at top quality. The guitar solos are absolutely nailed with shredding prowess at its best, while the songs rhythmically pound out pure classic Heavy Metal flawlessly with memorable instrumentals and singalong friendly choruses carefully scattered among the monolithic and gorgeously produced tracks. With some killer Speed Metal bangers such as “Hearts On Fire” to add more high-octane energy and even some subtle synth lines too, this is Haunt’s most daring record, straying slightly from straight NWOBHM worship and they do so brilliantly, making this some of their strongest material to date. Marvellously written and filled with an abundance of passionate energy that is as crystal clear as the majestic music they offer. Tracks like “Divide And Conquer” give a more ‘classic’ Haunt formula so there is definitely a great blend of new ideas and staying true to the bands sound in terms of anthemic and vibrant pieces. Overall I think this album has the best variety of tracks we have seen from Haunt with so much to offer and the ideas working magnificently together as a full album. Well contrasted, atmospheric and diverse, this record does not get boring or repetitive at all with belter after belter and a must-listen release for all fans of the classic Heavy Metal we all know and love, as is usually the case for Haunt records. Utterly fantastic new material with near infinite replay value in these crisp tracks that unravel a beast of pure Metal might! -9/10