Labels: Get Into It Records – Wolf Town DIY
Review by: MH
Healing Powers have been kicking around the north east for a couple of years (previous releases include a tape on a US label as well as a very promising split with Wade) and I think this 7inch is where they really find their feet. At their most pretty, like on the opening to “Friendship Bracelet” or “Everywhere I Go Is Hell” this is pretty spectacular stuff. The latter track rolls off the edge into chaos after that start as everything comes tumbling down but the beauty of the guitars is there to reel it back in – the contrast in styles on this track is rather fine. The vocals are totally wrought and distressed throughout, and lyrically we’re talking a distraught and raw bleakness like on “He Did Not Live To See The Realisation Of His Dream” (“I’ll bite my tongue until I tear through the flesh and blood fills my mouth”). Alongside all this, the packaging is very nicely put together – minimal on the vinyl itself and the cover, and with a bleaknesss to the insert. It’s a rarity that I listen to screamo these days but when the guitar sound is as beautiful as this and when there are tracks like “He Did Not Live To See The Realisation Of His Dream” which, although mid-paced, absolutely rips, then you’ve got me interested.