Review Summary: In dropping their previous leanings, HRVRD creates an incredibly moody and intricate album that fully realizes what they are capable of.
HRVRD have undeniably undergone a transformation on From the Bird’s Cage. One could say that their new moniker solidifies this newfound identity. That argument wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. In the past they were known as Harvard, but they removed the vowels from their name in 2012 around the time they signed with Equal Vision Records. Harvard performed a style of post-hardcore with indie rock and progressive leanings akin to Circa Survive and others. Post-hardcore is a double edged sword that many bands cut themselves on without even realizing it, but Harvard managed to avoid the blade with The Inevitable and I, and created a memorable album within the genre in the process. This left many wondering where they would go with their next album. Many bands in the position HRVRD found themselves in would just record a very similar sounding album and would take absolutely no risks. However, HRVRD did not opt to take the easy way out and they instead almost entirely ditch the post-hardcore sound that gave them attention in the first place in favor of unearthing the indie rock influence that has always been present. As a subsequent result, From the Bird’s Cage is more focused, cohesive, moody, ambitious, and engaging than anything they’ve put out previously and finds HRVRD fully realizing their potential.
HRVRD ventures in realms that hordes of other artists wouldn’t dare, and they experiment with non-traditional rock instruments. Organs are heard on "Flaming Creatures" and give off a goofy vibe. Trombones and trumpets rear themselves on a few tracks with a distant and distorted sound that often times add to the somber atmosphere. Xylophone makes itself slightly audible toward the tail end of "We Never Shut Up About You". And the intricate piano melody on the closing track, "Eva Brucke", is incredibly haunting and is fundamental for the pace of the song. None of this experimentation with these instruments feels forced, excessive, or is unwelcome.
Not to say that any of the other instruments are lackluster in any respect. From the Bird’s Cage is filled to the brim with stellar execution of the instrumentation. Bass is the unsung hero of this LP, as the bass lines are thick and catchy in every song and the addicting groove of "Old Nature" is arguably focal point of the song. The drums are also underrated on this album and have a greater variation than other rock albums today. They can transition from subtle and sophisticated tapping, to massive and primeval pounding all on the same song without the listener even batting an eye. The guitars are a whole different beast as they almost single-handedly establish the atmosphere present on this album very fluidly. Most of the album finds HRVRD’s playing to be very soft, and relaxing. However on songs like "Flaming Creatures", "Cardboard Houses", and "Old Nature", there are moments when the guitars build up and become loud and abrasive during their respective choruses, proving that their post-hardcore influence hasn’t completely withered away. Enveloping all of this, both guitarists make ample use of effects and feedback, adding unique sounds to each song. None of these fantastic guitar sounds would matter, if their playing wasn’t at least good, and it is far from that. Their playing is fantastic. Each track has sticky and electrifying riffs that you have a challenging time knocking out of your head.
Without a doubt, all of this instrumentation serves as the backdrop for vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Jesse. On past material you would find Jesse yelling on a multitude of tracks, but on From the Bird’s Cage he has abandoned this vocal style in order to develop the dynamic in his voice. His vocals have a therapeutic quality and it can easily handle the many vocal fluctuations on this LP. The lyrics presented are vague, but this isn’t a bad thing at all as it challenges the listener to have to figure out exactly what message Jesse is trying to convey.
The greatest thing about this album isn’t any of the previously mentioned factors. The most tremendous part about this album is its cohesion. Every track flows into each other with grace and in a very seamless way. The only proper way to listen to this album is to sit down and listen to it all at once. Through this cohesion, From the Bird’s Cage proves that it is an album worth many spins. With many intricacies, engaging instrumentation, haunting atmosphere, bold experimentation, and stunning vocal delivery and lyrics, HRVRD solidify their newfound identity and produce one of the most underrated experiences of 2013.
