“Living in the high before the crash.”
Recent years have seen many beloved bands dust off their gear and return to the stage, and in 2026, it is Haste The Day’s turn. The iconic Christian metalcore band are back for their first album in over a decade. The band have had a cherished tenure starting all the way from 2001, enduring periods of inactivity and never fully putting the band to rest. With this, they return with Dissenter, their seventh full-length.
It’s rare for bands that have been going on for over two decades to retain many of their core members, but the line-up for Dissenter includes many of Haste The Day’s most well-known members, including vocalist-guitarist Brennan Chaulk and lead vocalist Stephen Keech, who also helms the production for the record. They began the cycle for this record back in 2024 with the first single, “Burn”, which was a familiar return to their melodic metalcore sound. The triumphant sounding main lead ushers in an impactful performance from Keech. The guitar lead work from Dave Krysl is impressively detailed throughout the track, with Scott Whelan and Chaulk following that energy with the rhythm guitars. The track features their signature style of anthemic choruses delivered by Chaulk, utilizing his lower register to create a more mature sound.
The rest of the record follows with a similar level of quality, delivering solid performances throughout. “Shallows” showcases their more aggressive side with a ferocious performance from Keech on the verses. There’s an eerie atmosphere that follows the track, and it creates a certain sense of desperation that adds a lot to the track. “Liminal” takes on the more classic, melodic Haste The Day sound and features Garrett Russell of Silent Planet on the bridge. These tracks may not bring much that is new to the band’s sound, but they nonetheless carry a sincerity and energy that I can’t help but find enjoyable.
The album’s softer, more melodically-focused cuts are fairly well-executed. “Grave” definitely takes a straightforward approach, going for a wistful atmosphere that sees Chaulk and Keech blending their clean vocals on the verses. The track’s climax comes in a bend-heavy breakdown that, while contrasting with the more melodic direction of the track, also feels like a natural conclusion to the buildup of the track. “Adrift” follows in a similar vein, employing subtle post-rock textures throughout the track as it takes on a brooding ambience. These tracks provide a nice level of variety in terms of the intensities of the album and their placements in the tracklist help to break up the flow of the album naturally.
Heavier cuts like “Gnasher” showcase Keech’s vocal ability, displaying a similar energy to his performances on earlier albums like Pressure The Hinges and Attack of the Wolf King. From higher shrieks to sing screams and even full-bodied gutturals, Keech definitely hasn’t lost his touch. The track pushes with an aggression that is satisfying in its straightforwardness. Drummer Giuseppe Capolupo delivers an energetic performance, with particular attention the track’s breakdown which sees him laying down a host of fills amidst the double kicks. “Heretic” charges forward with a similar sentiment of frustration, leveraging on a more chaotic and fast-paced delivery to create its emotional impact.
The album concludes with cinematic closer “Oblivion”. The closer definitely feels most familiar to their older material, taking on a certain nostalgic quality in its emotions. There’s something comforting to the wistful delivery from Keech and Chaulk, as they hold onto hope in spite of a coming apocalypse. Thematically, the album delves into a lot of feelings about the state of the world, and “Oblivion” feels like a worthy conclusion in both its sound and lyrics. The guitar work has been consistent throughout the album, and here it’s very much still packed with detail in the relentless riffing. The track ends on an extended orchestral section, ending the record on a poetic note.
As I mentioned earlier, Dissenter doesn’t really bring anything new to the table for Haste The Day, and in a way, the band doesn’t really need to do that. The band gives a solid performance throughout the album, displaying a more melancholic and mature side to the band while keeping true to the band’s core sound. The rawness in vocal delivery from Keech is a definite highlight, consistently conveying an emotional intensity. The focus on delivering a sincere and heartfelt record was definitely the right choice. The record tackles themes of discouragement and jadedness with the state of the world in a way that feels relatable, and this is a quality that I greatly appreciate. Dissenter is sure to be an album that longtime fans of Haste The Day will appreciate and is a welcome addition to the band’s discography.
7/10
Dissenter releases on the 1st of May Solid State Records. Pre-order and merch links for the album can be found here.