HAUNT – Windows Of Your Heart (Album Review)

HAUNT - Windows Of Your Heart (Album Review)
HAUNT – Windows Of Your Heart

Haunt returns in 2022 with their 10th or 11th album in just a few years, but who’s counting? The output is amazing, and not just for how much Haunt music there is, but also for the quality. Each release is a gateway into the majesty of Haunt‘s brand of heavy metal. Windows Of Your Heart is a worthy addition to their catalogue of classic heavy metal. The man behind the band Trevor William Church delivers an album with the feel and energy of early Iron Maiden—huge riffs, ripping solos, and a perfect metal honed from a DIY, punk rock, scrappy approach to making great music for the love of it.

As usual, this is almost all Church—the driving beat, the vocals, the riffs, the solos. With Windows Of Your Heart he’s gone back more to the roots of metal. The synths of some previous albums are mostly gone, or at least way back in the mix. The album crushes, from the instant classic “Mercenaries” to the new recording of one of the best Haunt songs “Frozen in Time“.

Video Blitz

Ahead of the July release, Haunt released three videos for the tracks “Windows of Your Heart“, “Father Time“, and “Mercenaries“. All three are worth checking out and if you find yourself going down a Haunt rabbit hole, I can relate.

The personal “Windows of Your Heart” is a standout track on the album. It’s amazingly well-written, the band absolutely brings it, and Church treats us to a blistering solo.

My favourite track on the album, “Father Time” lands right where I like my metal, heavy on the guitar, sweet riffs, atmosphere, and chorus. It would slot in perfectly in Haunt‘s setlist, right after “Frozen in Time”.

Like the planes in the video, “Mercenaries” drops a musical bomb on the crazy state of the world in 2022. One of the best lines I’ve heard in a song in a while, “the world is fucking mad!”, will get a great reaction live. The song bobs and weaves like a heavy metal boxer, even delivering a devasting combination of two signature Church solos.

Frozen in Time

Of course one of the best tracks on the album is a new take on “Frozen in Time” from early music like Burst in Flames. Fans absolutely love “Frozen in Time” at their live shows.

The new version opens with a cold, howling wind instead of the original which dives right into the riffs. I think it’s a good addition. While staying faithful to the great riffs of the original, the updated track has a more full sound. The solo is as epic as the first time around. I have a feeling fans will debate which one is better for a long time.

Traditional Metal Fans Rejoice

Working his ass off, Trevor William Church has built a juggernaut with Haunt. Things are falling into place. The videos look great and showcase a band prepping for a US tour heading to the East Coast. And—most importantly—Windows Of Your Heart is a fantastic album.

One of the finest old-school metal bands in the US, Haunt is at the top of their game. For any collectors out there, they have all sorts of vinyl variants, cassettes, and merch. The album art alone is worth picking up a physical copy.

BUY

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Also, find more of my CGCM reviews here: Dave Wilks

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