Belle HavenYou, Me And Everything In Between

Can we take a step back and acknowledge that the young guns who’ve managed to reinvent themselves are absolutely dominating the year so far? Belle Haven have transitioned successfully from manic riffs to genuine hit writing in the past few years, and boy is it sweet. The early half of You, Me And Everything In Between is slightly lighter than its back half, but the tone of despair never takes a hit. Burn The Witch is tailor made for live chants, and early release The Carving Knife lingers in its chorus. It’s You that pushes the sing-along potential to the absolute limit and as an opener it’s a strong choice. Kick ’em in the teeth and go down swinging, that’s the Belle Haven way.

You, Me And Everything In Between walks a fine line between heavy and poignant and is one of the standout records of 2017.

The filthy bass that kicks off Hollywood is genuinely menacing. The record’s midway turning point serves as a hell of an interlude without resorting to typical airy synths. That’s no shade on the keys that dance around HighfLIAR though. singer David Vernon lays himself bare on the piano-driven By Hook or by Crook and it cuts fucking deep. The album highlight comes out of left field but the painful requiem is easily the most powerful track the record presents. Facebook feeds are littered with ‘so proud of the boys in…’ but this is a time where it’s more than deserved. You, Me And Everything In Between walks a fine line between heavy and poignant and is one of the standout records of 2017.

STANDOUT TRACKS: By Hook Or By Crook, You, Burn The Witch
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Norma Jean, Hellions, Underoath