New Years Day
Half Black Heart – Century Media Records
There’s a fresh new confidence on this latest outing from New Years Day that runs through every song. Ash Costello has always been a force vocally but now there’s even more focus and precision. Carrying on the theme of duality which has run from the band’s inception now it’s brought much more to the fore with lyrics that bite down hard. Costello’s voice is so in the zone here that you find yourself regularly raising an eyebrow, wondering with some merit if this is the big breakthrough moment that has been worked so hard for. Having welcomed both Brandon Wolfe and Jeremy Valentine back to the fold has clearly re-energised the song writing process. Every note on every song is placed there with great care and skill. There’s no fat or gristle to chew through, Half Black Heart is a lean, mean sound machine. It is also by some distance New Years Day’s finest work to date.
Review by Gary Trueman