“Take apart my mind and keep a picture of it.”
There are few bands in the broader metal scene that I can level praise at quite as much as Greyhaven. The Kentucky quartet have been kicking around for a while, but their true beginning, at least to me, started with 2018’s Empty Black. A raucous, rowdy slice of metalcore, in large part paying homage to both the chaos and keen melodicism of bands like Every Time I Die and The Dillinger Escape Plan, their band’s sophomore LP took a couple of years to reach me upon its initial release, but it has yet to leave my rotation since.
Its 2022 follow-up in This Bright and Beautiful World similarly impressed, with an amped-up degree of energy compared to its predecessor, all the while not shedding the melodic sensibilities that made the band’s dynamic sound so alluring. I was yearning for a few more big choruses a la “Echo & Dust” or “Sweet Machine”, but the album still marked a bold step forward in Greyhaven’s continual rise. Perhaps more pertinently, however, 2024’s Stereo Grief EP (whose lead single “The Welcome Party” remains one of my favourite songs of the decade thus far) left such a remarkable impression that it not only topped my personal EPOTY list for the year, but also our site-wide list during end-of-year discussions.
With such a relatively short time between This Bright And Beautiful World and Stereo Grief however, at least compared to the sizable four-year gap following Empty Black, we were left truly unsure as to when the next Greyhaven release would surface. This curiosity would swiftly be ceased, as less than a year later the band were confirmed to be completing work on what we now know as Keep It Quiet shortly following their debut international run in January with Better Lovers and Frontierer – the first time I, and any other budding Greyhaven fans this side of the Atlantic, had the chance to catch the band.
It seemed like it was full steam ahead for Greyhaven, and whilst we didn’t know exactly when we’d actually become privy to any details about the LP, this was, again, quickly nipped in the bud, as the album’s lead single and announcement came just months later in July of this year. However, with the lofty expectations set by its still-fresh predecessor, the question remained: will Greyhaven continue to push the envelope and expand upon their already-stellar sound, or would the relatively hasty turnaround in comparison to previous cycles harm that progression? In short, there was nothing to worry about.
From the moment lead single “Burn a Miracle” began, it was clear the intention and approach had slightly shifted, but all for the better. The natural maturing and progression in Greyhaven’s sound across Keep It Quiet was so well-signaled here. Their signature angular riffing and bombastic energy, bookended masterfully with earworm chorus in tow, were abundant here to be sure, but something felt immediately refined in comparison to even their best of their previous work.
This notion carried through the entirety of Keep It Quiet, as each and every considered and calculated moment felt earned, from the low hum of “Evening Star” that eventually crescendoes into a cacophonous wall of ballistic noise by its terminus, through to the album’s brilliant and belligerent closer in “Cemetery Sun”, Keep It Quiet maintains a level of engagement and quality throughout its 11-track, 41-minute run (their longest to date) that, even for their stellar fare, proves to be undeniably sat at their apex of their discography.
Further, from the swaying beauty of “Where the Light Leaves Us”; to the eerie, groove-laden push-pull of “From the Backseat of a Moving Car”, it’s evident from even a cursory listen that not a single moment is wasted across Keep It Quiet. That’s not to mention the plethora of barnburner choruses scattered across each and every cut here (particularly “Shatter and Burst”, “Night In October”, and “Technicolor Blues”), which anchor each and every song down with its own little moment; a hard-wired earworm destined to be screamed back by eager fans by the thousands.
It’s a truly remarkable balance that Greyhaven have managed to strike, between honing in on what makes each individual element of their sound work, and amping everything up to the nines – all the while somehow creating a package that feels far more cohesive and complete than anything that came before. It’s a delicate act, as you risk accidentally neglecting certain aspects in the process, or overdoing others, but this is a hurdle that Greyhaven clearly have no trouble clearing, as Keep It Quiet truly feels like the most complete and well-rounded release in a discography of truly remarkable records.
Keep It Quiet feels like a culmination of more than what’s come before it – far more than a sum of its (admittedly brilliant) parts. Whilst Greyhaven have continually pushed the envelope in terms of developing their sound, to this point there has been no leap as great as here – and it’s all the better for it. This is the Kentucky quartet at their very best, honing in on exactly what makes their sound tick, all the while furthering and developing their sound to carve out an even stronger niche. Greyhaven have gained the veneration of their peers and diehards, but with any luck, through Keep It Quiet, their decoration as one of the most exciting, fresh and downright electric voices in the metal world will seep out further into the broader metal mainstream. Even with now four LPs (and a stellar EP) under their belt, all chock full of worthy contenders for their inevitable breakout, it’s undeniable that the latest addition to their storied discography is best suited to be the catalyst to that very moment.
9.5/10
Keep It Quiet is due for release Friday, 10th October via Solid State, and you can find pre-orders for the album here.