From Bandcamp, “HAVEN is an alternative/post-metal band from Berlin, Germany - fusing dark heaviness and fragile melody in their music. They address topics such as consequence of action, the structure of ego, the weight of personal experience, and the significance of human life as part of an all-embracing cycle of energy.” The album has seven songs, and “Idol” is first. It has a combination of angry harsh vocals, as well as solemn and even hopeless tones at times. The clean female vocals deliver a world of hurt, and pain, while the harsh make vocals roar like a mortally wounded lion.

“Causes” has a similar sound, starting with low and slow guitar tones and turning into hatred, anger, and torture. The combination of hardened, sharp Metal tones with the melancholy and somberness of Post Rock is perhaps best represented here, although the ardent tones win. “Leash” is much thicker and more deadly, and the tones of hate are pure active embers here, and they burn with an intensity that is the equivalent of dumping rocket fuel on an already blazing fire.  But the melancholy sound seems somewhat pressed…almost as if they band were overlooking for ways to balance these two things. “Wesen” is a short little song that provides moments of reprieve from the earlier anger, and gives the listener a moment to catch their breath.

“Rue” has alternative sounds in the clean tones, while the harsh tones plow through them like a runaway freight train. Heavy bass notes and drums, and fuzzy guitars hold down the bottom end, and the clean vocals are ethereal. “Theia” is another shorter offering but it does buzz with some ominous energy. “Ankou” closes the album, and it has a punishing sound coming from the music and vocals. Still, the clean vocal passages leave a little to be desired…they are delivered in a flat, vanilla sort of way. Although the album showed potential at times, it floundered for a decent amount of the way for me. The hardened passages are ardent, gritty, and brutal, but they were not enough to overcome a general lack of energy.