New York-based GUHTS (pronounced ‘guts’) declare themselves to be an “avant-garde post-metal project, delivering larger than life sounds through, deeply emotional music.” For sure those aspirations are amply delivered in the form of their debut album “Regeneration.” The album has seven songs. “White Noise” is first. The song is an exercise in contrasts…the instruments pain a desolate and dissonant picture, but the vocals are earnest and emotive. But, there is a bit of a disconnect between the two, which I am sure is purposeful, but it does grate a bit for the listener. “Til Death” is another deeply dissonant song with vocals that are actually quite calm. The juxtaposition is heightened here but I am still not sure it makes sense…I need to keep listening.

“The Mirror” has a little more of a linear sound, where the vocals connect better with the music. I can’t quite make out the lyrics but Amber sure sings them with passion and conviction. “Handless Maiden” is a shorter song with a deeper sound coming from the main riff, and it sounds more hasty…more vital. The vocals are anguished screams. “Eyes Open” is more of a passion restrained kind of song. You are left with the feeling that the band could explode at any time but they hold back just enough and at the right times. Towards the end however, it comes to fruition. “Generate” is a little calmer, especially in the vocals, and it has some pretty and catchy melodies. The band also rides that superfine line between utter despair and hope in this song.

The lengthy “The Wounded Healer” closes the album. It rides forward with an overflowing trunk of depression, the likes of which you haven’t heard for a while. The screams near the mid-way mark are almost too much to bear. Overall, this was indeed a deeply emotional album. The music painted a picture of failure and regret, and the vocals more along the lines of anguish and torture.