The genuine variety of post-hardcore

Artist: Renee Heartfelt
Album: Death of the Ghost
Label: Textbook Music
Tracks: 14
Length: 43:16
Review by: John Durkee

Post-hardcore is a real genre, and has nothing to do with most of the bands labeled as such. Renee Heartfelt is one of the few examples of a truly post-hardcore variety, as the band contains former members of hardcore bands (Give Up the Ghost, Striking Distance, and Count Me Out). On Death of the Ghost, Renee Heartfelt utilizes great guitar work, with melodic guitar lines and good riffs throughout. The record is very much driven by the guitars, but also features a great rhythm section. The vocals, while not being particularly bad, leave a bit to be desired, as they lack dynamics. Ultimately they are good enough, but it holds back what the band could do if the vocals were better. “Control” and “Gratitude” are easily the best on the album, as they have the most intriguing melodies and guitar lines on Death of the Ghost. Overall, this is one of the better post-hardcore albums I’ve heard, but is a falls a little short of greatness, as many songs blur together.