Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 06/01/2020
Label: Shadow Kingdom Records
“Mind
Freeze” CS//CD//DD//LP track listing:
1.
‘Light The Beacon’
2. ‘Hearts On Fire’
3. ‘Mind Freeze’
4. ‘Divide And Conquer’
5. ‘Saviors Of Man’
6. ‘Fight Or Flight’
7. ‘Have No Fear’
8. ‘On The Stage’
9. ‘Voyager’
The
Review:
Haunt
began in 2017 as a solo project of musician Trevor Church. Initially, Church
played guitar, drums, bass, recorded, and distributed Haunt’s debut EP “Luminous
Eyes”. However, it’s grown into a full-fledged band with a lineup that
includes Church on guitar and vocals, John Tucker on guitar, Taylor Hollman on
bass, and Daniel “Wolfy” Wilson on drums. Haunt’s latest album, “Mind
Freeze”, is distributed by Shadow Kingdom Records.
Church,
a multi-instrumentalist, is no stranger to metal. He played bass for the band Inside
the Sun, drums for Worship of Keres, and sang for Wolf Ghost. Aside
from fronting Haunt, he currently plays bass for Hysteria and
doubles as the guitarist and vocalist for Beastmaker. Similarly, he
records and distributes music under his own banner Church Recordings.
Prolific in his output, Church put out 4 EP’s with Beastmaker, and 1 LP
with Haunt in 2018. Haunt has also put out 2 EP’s and 3 LP’s
since its inception.
While
many of Church’s other bands have more of a doom vibe, Haunt has more
NWOBHM influences, and would fit in nicely on a bill that included early Iron
Maiden, and 80s era Judas Priest.
The
musicianship is stellar which results in tremendous guitar harmonies between
Church and Tucker. Tracks like “Light the Beacon” and “Have No Fear”
are melodic throwbacks which include aspects of prog rock such as great use of
synth accompaniments. Other tracks like “Mind Freeze” and “Divide and
Conquer” hit you at breakneck speed. The arrangements are
complex and result in multiple time signature changes which gives the band
plenty of chances to demonstrate their musical chops. Haunt has picked
up the torch for thrash and run with it. The album uses all the building blocks
to construct an excellent installment in the genre. If you are a fan of early
thrash, this album is for you.
“Mind
Freeze”
is available HERE
