Explosive, gut-wrenching, heavy, melodic, and simply amazing. I knew from the first song this band would get five stars. Heart-Set Self-Destruct may be a mouthful to say but it’s worth it for such incredible music. Heart-Set Self-Destruct is a fusion of rock, alternative, metal, and a dash of punk. The band knows when to pound it out and when to be melodic with fast punk-like beats. The opening song “Skin” mixes all these elements to form an intense, yet fun paced, barrage of metal and rock. The song dances back and forth between the punk, the metal, and the rock. The transitions are smooth and natural, and highly irresistible. Screams and hard metal riffs appear out of nowhere surprising your senses. And as quickly as they come, they leave. Finger tapping and high-hat riding make the song race. Double bass pedals and anger-filled screams heighten the sensations and make for appropriate head banging moments. Lead singer Dave gives us vivid imagery, “Can you see my tears that are running red again / With a razor blade I cut you from my skin.”
“Vices” is pure alternative metal with throbbing drums and heart-pounding guitar riffs. Although not as catchy as “Skin,” “Vices” allows for some serious aggression to be released, especially when Dave gives a brutal scream, “It’s over!” The band has truly mastered the art of juxtaposing its dose of metal with the melodic. Most metal bands sprinkle melodies over crushing and thrashing guitars and drums. Heart-Set Self-Destruct have decided to reverse the formula, giving us only spoonfuls of ruthless attacks and aggression.
The boisterous punk-metal nature makes a return on “Flaw” keeping up the momentum of the album. Again, the song flows from one genre into the next, making you wonder just where the direction of the music is going. The agony and the pain of the lyrics unite with the passion and chagrin of the music. The bridge fills with massive drum collisions and churning guitars. The unforgettable guitar riffs in the beginning show face at the end for a punk rock ending.
A thumping bass and drums ignite, setting the tone for “Inside.” Midway the guitars are finally let loose to full throttle, pounding away with every smash of the drums. It’s times like this that make me realize how much I love metal and rocking out. The song ends all too quickly and before I know it, I’m on the last song and it’s not fair. “Made of Scars” gives the illusion of being a rock ballad, but thankfully that hard rock kicks in. The band lay their hearts on the table and we see they’re fragile after all. The chorus gets emotional as Dave sings, “You make your memories with scars / And you, you twist your dreams with broken thoughts / And now you’re running away, chasing the pain so you can feel something that’s true.” The pain is what we always seem to remember most and this song will definitely strike a chord among us all. Bridges to Burn is an innovative mix that touches upon rock and metal and everything in between. Heart-Set Self-Destruct is a refreshing dose of a perfectly blended band that will leave you high and addicted.
Must listen to tracks: All of them!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristen You can read more about Kristen at her new website http://beerenlightenment.wordpress.com/
