Will Haven VII

Noise metal veterans Will Haven are back after quite the noticeable absence with their unique brand of sludge, hardcore, and alternative metal. VII sees the band stretch their creative wings as they always do, but with some new sounds sprinkled in, as one would expect. They’ve toured with a host of acts from all sorts of genres and have had quite the eclectic mix of guests on their records over the years as well. If there’s one thing that could be said of Will Haven that would go unchallenged it’d be that they aren’t afraid to experiment and try new things.

VII is told across eleven tracks that range from earth-moving, quaking sludge, to emotive hardcore with some other wrinkles that fall somewhere in between. Tracks such as “Evolution of a Man” find ways to blend a lot of these ideas together and make a dynamic song, adding a dose of accessibility to the album that in many other ways overwhelms. One of the key things about this record is the exasperated lurch toward some unknown or yet-to-be-discovered destination. What helps balance this is that for all of their sludgey inclinations, Will Haven are still a hardcore band at their heart, so songs aren’t sticking around beyond four-minutes or so on average. A band more focused on the doom that sludge brings would probably expand those songs and even slow them down to let the fog obscure all visible light. VII keeps the despair manageable by injecting that hardcore spirit throughout, which not only keeps the record moving, but also makes the ride a little more enjoyable.

“Diablito” and “Diablito II” are near the center of the album’s tracklist and serve as a pair of gateways to the back third of the record and this is where both their atmospheric and melodic side shine. While the first two thirds of the album is great, it is a little weak when contrasted with the weight and fury of its final moments. “No Stars to Guide Me” lets loose a hell that wasn’t present on those first few tracks and it feels inevitable and perhaps a little overdue by this point in the album. Regardless, they got here and this aggression feels like a place that Will Haven should call home. The piano outro of this song is an ominous trek into “Feeding the Soil” which keeps the piano featured and ties it nicely to the previous song and adds to its already ethereal atmosphere.

If there is a criticism to levy at this album it would be that there isn’t a track or two here that found a way to dig and leave a mark beyond the listening experience itself. While this could be an intended approach - to make the entirety of the album a singular experience - a hook or two here or there could bring a listener back a little quicker. What does help in bringing the listener back again and again is the succinct thirty-three-minute runtime which is perfect for an album of this ilk, and Will Haven have that aspect on lock.

Bottom Line: VII is a record that lives and dies by the atmosphere. Thankfully, Will Haven know this and produced this record with that in mind. There’s a vacuous haze that permeates each song and while the intensity varies from track to track, it’s a constant that gives VII an identity and definition. While the lack of a standout single or a set of hooks may hold the album back in some aspects, this is a rewarding and economical album that more often than not plays to its strengths, and that alone will attract listeners back again and again.