Growing up in a hugely influential Sacramento scene that saw many of its peers explode, implode or simply fade away, Will Haven has unfairly skimmed the under current for the majority of its existence. It is inexplicable to try and figure out why the band never rose more to popularity but I prefer to put more energy into celebrating its continued existence. Not only is seventh album VII a great entry point for any who are new to the band, it is also one of the best the band has produced, especially since seminal third album Carpe Diem. VII is a stunning concoction of the band’s career as crunching sludge riffs battle an oppressive atmosphere of noise. To be 28 years into a band and releasing an album this good is just outrageous.
The run of the first three Will Haven albums culminating in Carpe Diem really should have seen them reaching swathes of the fanbase of old friends like Deftones. While those early albums featured mainly prominent riffs, the band has begun to add further soundscapes to their sludge in recent releases, and VII is the sweet-spot in marrying the growling riffs with a heavy and dense atmosphere. There is ample riffing that carves into the body like an axe, but the synth and guitar effects elevate this from a romantic look back to a forward focused classic. ‘Diablito’ is the most reminiscent sounding as the guitar’s repetition drives the riff home but even it is surrounded. In a similar vein, ‘Feeding The Soil’ cracks into some neck-breaking rhythms as well as the more expansive guitar work the band built its foundations on, but the true takeaway is the overall mix of the heaviness and atmosphere that cloaks all the tracks on the album.
In that density there is a claustrophobic feeling where tension builds and the smoke hides the identity of the creator of the sinister butchering riffs like a finely written thriller movie. These layers are added to and often penetrated by the indomitable vocals of Grady Avenell with his unmistakable delivery. From openers ‘Luna’ and ‘5 Of Fire’ the tone is well set with abrasion, pressure and some sinister shades and almost breaks into a death-metal menace. In all the band manages to create eleven songs which never become stagnant and each throw the senses a different way.
I guess there may be two audiences – those who know Will Haven and those who don’t. For those who do, everything on this album will be extremely appealing and refreshing. For those who don’t, if you like LLNN and early Deftones then this will certainly be for you. The fact remains, there is no one like Will Haven and no one does sludge like Will Haven. VII is a stunning feat in a wondrous career.
