The Wind Covenant – Hiraeth (EP)
Release Date: 8th March 2024
Label: Seek & Strike
Stream
Genre: Metalcore, Melodic Metal, Deathcore, Djent.
FFO: Dedalus Project, Vodnik, The End At The Beginning.
Review By: Metal Miguel
So, The Wind Covenant has returned with a new EP. They’re an Italian-based unit, and they’ve taken their songwriting, allegedly, to a new dimension which is showcased on their ferocious new single, which is The Wonders We Leave Behind. The track serves as a glimpse of their new EP, Hiraeth, which means a deep longing for something, and is relevant to the band’s style in lyrical content as the EP holds a special meaning for the band, as it’s a reflection on letting go of things that were once right for you but no longer feel that way. They say that at its core, the song explores themes of self-understanding, acceptance, closure and personal transformation, and it delves into the passion of something that once felt like life’s purpose and how it’s now faded, and it’s okay to change said path.
There are five tracks on the EP, and it doesn’t take very long at all, probably 18 minutes I would say. I’ve tried to listen to this a few times, and I’m not 100% sure I’m on board with it. It starts quite strong and then it kind of fades off a little bit. It seems to have this kind of immediate solid metal rhythmic tuning that you like and then it sort of tears off into this sort of wildly melodic bit. It’s supposed to be nice, but it’s not that nice. I’m trying to find nice things to say about it because it’s a well-thought-out, well-produced release. Still, I’m not entirely sure that the essence of the EP speaks to me. However, I do like the fact that they have a meaning for it, a reflection of letting go which we all do, and it’s a good thing to do that. Still, I’m not entirely convinced the music inspires me to let go, well maybe it has, maybe it has inspired me to let go because I probably won’t listen to it again.
It was enjoyable for what it was, but I’m not 100% sure that it’s a solid re-listening for me. This might suit the young teams coming up with their sort of slightly different take on metalcore of the day, melodic metal, I’m not entirely sure what genre this band would slip into. I would never guess they were Italian, not that that should have any bearing on it at all, but I’d never heard of the band before and when I started writing this I used the term “have returned with a new EP” but any prior releases have completely escaped me, even though I’d say I have the finger on the metal pulse. So, I’m heading into the definite “Dad” chat or old rocker with my metaphors and the usual, “it wasn’t like that in my day” chat. I come from a time when album covers and names certainly gave you an idea of what was coming. The album cover on this one seems to have that kind of old-style paintings of women in floral style dresses with flowers around them playing violins and such. It looks like a very symphonic-style, old-school, baroque-feeling album, but it’s not that at all.
It’s very confusing, the symbolism and the music together, with what they’re saying are supposed to make you think about it, and I am thinking, but I’m not reflecting on it like the band has suggested it might. Anyway, it’s an EP, it’s five tracks, it’s 18 minutes, it’s okay, it’s not the worst, it’s not genre-defining either by any stretch of the imagination, and they seem to think that it has genre essentials, and it’s got its impactful breakdowns and riffs, with its deeply personal lyrics, that it brings a different flavour to the scene. I’m not 100% sure that’s correct, but I’m one for allowing the creative form to manifest itself in whatever way you want and having deeply personal lyrics but, like a lot of art, it’s very subjective, isn’t it? I don’t think the music hits home as far as I’m concerned.
It’s still a decent EP that’s worth a listen, and it certainly has its moments, like anything else. I wouldn’t say it’s anything to pull an onion face to or certainly to shout out “Tune”, but it’s worth a spin. Who knows what will come after this, I guess we’ll see, but Hiraeth is released on the 8th of March on Seek and Strike, and you can make your own assessment.
(3 / 5)
