Grenades “Heaven is Empty” Review
By James Ballinger
It’s very easy to pinpoint Grenades in a genre if you wanted to. At first listen, it’s a throwback to days of hardcore past. Duel vocals, one screaming, one half screaming-half singing, noodly guitar lines, all of that. But beneath the surface at the core of the music lies the basic foundation of why it works so well for the band. All of the songs are catchy, well written, and contain just enough hooks without any gimmick at play. Hooks that last just long enough to get stuck in your head then ending, begging for repeat listens. Guitarists Eric Christianson and Jerome Sauer add some balance with melodic turns and solos, while main vocalist and bassist Aaron Yost and drummer Trent McIntyre hold down everything else. Tracks like the album opener “Emerald” start big, and finish even bigger with a bombastic chant along. Other highlights like “Dead Air”, “Syria”, “All Hail the Snake”, and “Misery Whip” don’t really stray far from the formula, but they don’t need to. The album works on all fronts, never wears out its welcome. The record really seals the deal with the closer “Reconciler”, a slower paced instrumental that swells so huge in spots it’s just damn hard not to smile.
Recorded at Red Room by Christiaan Morris, the album is finally seeing the light of day on Red Cobra Records this Friday. The record release show at the Comet Tavern is quite the line-up, with Smooth Sailing, Serial Hawk, and Mercy Ties. This is one you’ll be wise not to miss.
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