HAVEN’s debut, Causes, feels like a record that asks you to slow down and take it all in. It’s not an album you just throw on and forget about. No, this one makes you lean in a little closer, listen more intently, and let it breathe. From the very start, you can tell that this is a band that’s more interested in creating atmosphere than hammering you with noise.
This isn’t one of those post-metal albums that just drags on with long instrumental breaks for the sake of it. Instead, there’s an intention behind the quiet moments. When the music is soft or slow, it’s not empty; it’s building. Then, when it hits you with those intense, heavy riffs, they really make an impact because you’ve felt the calm before.
The drums are not flashy, but they don’t need to be. The way they shift from steady to forceful is exactly what’s needed to support the rest of the music. The guitars do a lot of work, too - sometimes providing haunting textures, sometimes slamming you with walls of sound. But it all feels thought out, not like they’re just piling on layers for the sake of it. It’s one of those albums where you can tell everyone’s got their place and the sound is coming together intentionally.
Then there’s Norman Siegel’s vocals. He’s got a rawness to his voice that fits with the emotional weight of the record. There are times where you can hear the intensity in his delivery, almost like he’s pushing himself, and it adds a lot of depth. But - here’s the thing - by the time the album reaches its later tracks, his style starts to feel a little too much of the same thing. Don’t get me wrong, he’s got a powerful voice, but it could’ve used a little more variety. A little twist here or there might have kept things more engaging.
Another thing worth mentioning is the pacing. Causes takes its time. If you’re someone who’s not big on slow build-ups, this could feel like a long listen. But if you’re into post-metal’s signature gradual tension and release, it’s part of the experience. It’s a slow burn, but it’s a burn that gets somewhere.
So, yeah - Causes is an album that’s hard to ignore once you start paying attention to it. It’s got atmosphere, it’s got emotion, and the band clearly knows what they’re doing. There are moments that could’ve used a little more variation, but overall, it shows a lot of promise. If HAVEN keeps pushing their sound like this, I have no doubt they’ll have a real impact in the post-metal scene.
https://www.instagram.com/haven_noise
Thanks to Grand Sounds PR.
