Review Summary: All I want is death
Stereo Grief feels like a combination of the best of Greyhaven’s discography. It’s a little odd to describe it as “the best of” considering how strong
Empty Black and
This Bright and Beautiful World stand on their own, but that’s truly what it is. Combining Greyhaven’s signature heavy southern riffing with strong melodic components, the EP dives deeper into the melodic aspect of their music while maintaining their aggressive songwriting. With fast-paced, blistering riffs and soaring choruses,
Stereo Grief showcases the talents of the band in a greater way than ever before.
From the opening of “Past Material,” Greyhaven takes command and never lets up throughout
Stereo Grief. Across “Confined Collapse” and “Sick and Lavish,” the guitars and drums play off each other in a chaotic manner, featuring some of their most captivating riffs and grooves. The mix of southern tinge and the dissonant panic chords bring about a ferocious atmosphere to the EP. “The Welcome Party” and the opener are full of fast-paced drum chops and alternate picking riffs that add to the intensity of
Stereo Grief. However, where Greyhaven excels is in the calmer moments of the record. The infectious groove of the ending of “Sick and Lavish” and the melodic section of “The Welcome Party'' showcase a softer side of the band that focuses heavily on spacious composition. The leads within “An Inverse Self-Reflection” and the choruses of “Confined Collapse” accentuate the heavier moments with their uplifting tone and subtle intricacies. But the true defining factor of the EP lies in the vocal performance. Throughout
Stereo Grief the vocals effortlessly transition between harsh screams and powerful cleans that guide each track throughout its duration. Across the record, the choruses are full of infectious and catchy melodies, marking some of the best clean vocals within Greyhaven’s discography in the soaring choruses of “The Welcome Party” and “Past Material.” Even in the melodic closer, the vibrant cleans throughout the softer verses are accentuated by the intense screams at the conclusion of the track that tie the whole thing together with its balance of aggression and calmness.
The only fault to
Stereo Grief is that there’s not enough. With how well-crafted the EP is, one could only wish it was a full-length album. But maybe that’s a good thing. In just about 17 minutes, Greyhaven manages to put out some of their best material to date. Despite the short runtime, the band effortlessly shifts between aggressive songwriting and melodic composition in a way that is captivating and impactful. Sure, it would be nice to have a full-length of this quality from Greyhaven, but
Stereo Grief is more than enough to satisfy.
