HAUNT – Mind Freeze

Haunt (U.S.) are described as “the new face of Traditional Heavy Metal & Hard Rock…(a) blend of turn-of-the-’80s Heavy Metal with touches of ’70s Hard Rock.”  Their promotional material reports compact songcraft, memorable hooks, impassioned playing, and moody, poignant lyrics. It argues that “no more can one simply say that Haunt are but a modern iteration of NWOBHM or some-such.”

Alas, from the opening notes of “Light The Beacon” to the final echo of “Voyager” their third album invokes NWOBHM nostalgia. The vocals in particular set the tone.  They’re clearly delivered without a trace of strain or high pitched wail. They’re combined with a muted and brooding rhythm section to create a stage for melodic guitar work to shine.  The guitarists fill this space with creative soloing and hook laden bridges. “Light The Beacon”, “Hearts On Fire” and “Fight Or Flight” capture these elements at their best.

The band also uses keyboards but with limited success. A clumsy mix often placing the keyboards in conflict with the band.  In “Mind Freeze”, the keyboard presence is strongly tracked right while the band is tracked to the left. During “Divide And Conquer” and “Saviours Of Man”, the same dynamic pitting the keyboard and guitar against each other is present again. “Have No Fear” is the one keyboard heavy track where the mix is balanced properly.  The result is a highlight track contrasting starkly with other mixes.

It’s unclear why Haunt seeks to distance themselves from the NWOBHM label as they’re quite good at it.  They’re a subdued and cerebral version of their contemporaries Night Demon. Mind Freeze occasionally suffers from unfortunate mixing, but it’s a solid album keeping Traditional Metal alive and viable.

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TRACKLIST (Highlights: 1, 2, 6, 7)

1. Light The Beacon
2. Hearts On Fire
3. Mind Freeze
4. Divide And Conquer
5. Saviours Of Man
6. Fight Or Flight
7. Have No Fear
8. On The Stage
9. Voyager

LINEUP

TREVOR WILLIAM CHURCH (Vocals, Guitar)
JOHN TUCKER (Backing Vocals, Guitar)
TAYLOR HOLLMAN (Bass)
DANIEL (WOLFIE) WILSON (Drums)