Artist: HeadFury
Album Name: A New World
Release Date: 6 November 2020
Country: South Africa/Germany
City: Johannesburg
Genre: Melodic hard rock
Release Date: 6 November 2020
Country: South Africa/Germany
City: Johannesburg
Genre: Melodic hard rock
City: Johannesburg
Genre: Melodic hard rock
Members:
Gideon Kretschmer – Vocals, synths
Vince van der Walt – Guitar, bass
Wayne de Bruyn – Drums [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”5053″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The album kicks off with the high energy, heavy and in-your-face Paleface, a track that’s bound to make you get up and headbang. It closes with the ballad Pantomime, a beautifully written ode to endings. In either case, the vocals — versatile, powerful and, quite simply, beautiful — couldn’t have been more captivating.
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I went into HeadFury’s debut album. Suffice to say, by the end of it, I could not stop myself from saying “Wow” out loud. The trio — Gideon, Wayne and Vince — have done a formidable job in all facets of A New World, from composition to production to performance.
There’s a nostalgic quality to A New World that took me back to early 2000s South Africa, when heavy rock was all the rage. I think if HeadFury existed back then, they’d have dominated the scene, unmatched and unchallenged as one of, if not, the best that this country could offer.
In fact, I’ll eat my socks if that doesn’t apply even today. HeadFury has a refreshing sound and unique energy that I’ve waited a long, long time to experience again. A New World is as relatable as it is enjoyable, and is the sort of album that you won’t just hear, but feel.
It’s a masterfully crafted work of heterogeneity, with appeal in everything — the harsh and loud, the soft and pretty, the nuanced, and the groove. It covers all bases, and the resulting album speaks volumes in favour of ‘quality over quantity’.
That’s the thing about HeadFury. They know what they’re doing, and with a New World, they’ve done it extremely well. I am impressed by it in its entirety, and I can’t think of a single thing that I don’t like about it. I tried to find any criticism at all, but could not. They’re sound, they’re precision, and the way this album was compiled is perfect. I do not say that lightly. It’s unbelievable that this is a debut album.
Sure, the genre may not be suited to everyone, but even so, give it a chance. You might find that you like it, even if it’s outside of your usual tastes. HeadFury may surprise you as they did me — in the best, and coolest way possible.
View the music video for their Single Monterrey here
Rating: 10/10
Reviewed by: Kelly Damon[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]