Heavy Song of the Week is a feature from Heavy Consequence that looks at the best metal, punk, and hard rock songs you should listen to every Friday. This week, the honor goes to Many Eyes for their new single “Harbinger.”
Band breakups can be a messy business, as was the case with long-running metalcore band Every Time I Die, which is now defunct. Concerts were cancelled, there were exchanges of words on social media, and singer Keith Buckley ended up parting ways with the rest of the group, which meant their demise.
Now that the dust has settled a couple of years later, both parties are immersed in new creative projects. The other members of Every Time I Die formed Better Lovers with Greg Puciato and found immediate success, while Keith Buckley has created his own new band, Many Eyes.
In some ways, a song like the band’s latest single, “Harbinger,” feels more like Every Time I Die than it does anything Better Lovers has done so far. Firstly, there’s Buckley’s recognizable voice, which sounds like he’s screaming with a renewed sense of urgency. We’re not suggesting there’s a rivalry, but in the history of bad band splits, a certain degree of competition is inherent between estranged band members’ subsequent projects, and comparisons are inevitable. But to continue, secondly, the song is more steeped in the extreme metalcore style that was always synonymous with Every Time I Die (whereas we’re hearing a bit more post-hardcore and slam-thrash with Better Lovers).
Thankfully, it seems both sides have found a new direction with their respective bands. Much like Better Lovers, Buckley and Many Eyes are quickly gaining momentum, with a debut album and a tour supporting Sum 41 on the horizon.
Honorable mentions:
BAND-MAID and The Warning – “SHOW THEM”
A transcontinental collaboration like “SHOW THEM” presents some challenges, including integrating all eight musicians into two bands. Despite all that, Japan’s BAND-MAID and Mexico’s The Warning managed to create a solid tune that should appeal to both groups’ fan bases. The song captures the hard-rock essence of both bands, while giving members of each group a chance to showcase their individual talents.
Satan’s Satyrs – “What the Winds Brought”
The new single from occult rockers Satan's Satyrs has a lackluster, lo-fi sound. The crushed, lo-fi sound is pure Velvet Underground, with acoustic guitars, distorted electric guitars, and British Invasion vocals thrown into the mix. It sounds twisted and distorted, some might even say devil.
Tremonti – “Simply Too Much”
Mark Tremonti is a very busy man. When he's not playing guitar for Creed or Alter Bridge, you might find him singing Frank Sinatra songs or playing in his self-titled solo group, Tremonti. The latter is the one that released the new song “Just Too Much” earlier this week, showcasing the guitarist and singer's multitude of talents. His heavily blues-influenced guitar riffs provide the backbone of the song, while at the same time he nails a commanding vocal part. Let it be known, Mark Tremonti is a talented singer, even if he doesn't get to use the bagpipes as much in his other bands.
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