Words by: Sarah Aurora

After a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, Seahaven is making their resurgence with their new album Halo of Hurt. Fans were under the impression that after their 2018 tour, the band had called it quits — and so was the band. Frontman Kyle Soto even admitted, “I don’t even know if I picked up a guitar for two and a half years. We didn’t know what direction we wanted to go in. We did a summer tour in 2016 and when it was over, we thought that was the end.” Despite the break, Seahaven is back with their hauntingly beautiful album, Halo of Hurt. 

Seahaven’s Halo of Hurt starts off the album with “Void” — a six-minute piece that shows off drummer Eric Findlay’s impressive skills. It’s quite the dramatic way to start off the album, but it’s nonetheless effective. The driving drumbeat brings the listener right into the heart of this story and sets up the tone for the rest of the album. “Void” is followed by one of the previously released singles, “Moon.” The tracks bleed right into each other, with “Moon” taking on a darker tone. The overlapping vocals and dissonant chords make you feel like you’re spinning, a common theme for the album. This track is more guitar-heavy, showing off Cody Christian’s talents, as well as Soto’s incredible range as a vocalist. 

“Dandelion” comes next on the track list with a more ominous feel than its predecessors. It serves as a nice shift from the anxious feelings to the more depressing feelings that come from the back-end of the album. It’s followed by “I Don’t Belong Here,” a bass-heavy track that shows off bassist Mike DeBartolo and solidifies the downward spiral of emotions. There is a massive shift in tone halfway through, making this a stand-out track on the album. With both powerful lyricism and an ever-changing instrumental, “I Don’t Belong Here” paints a crystal clear picture of depression. 

“Lose” dialogues a failed relationship — paired with Soto’s soft vocal coos throughout the song, “Lose” plays as a heartbreaking ballad. The previously released single, “Harbor,” follows this dreamy track. The guitar line is one to note — with it’s repetitive but the contrasting octaves throughout the piece adding to the feeling that you’re lost in the woods. “Harbor” encapsulates what it feels like to be running in circles and chasing the same demons that just can’t seem to be beaten. 

“Harbor” leads into what will soon be a fan favorite, “Living Hell.” The integration of the piano line and ominous bass undertones make you feel like you’re standing on the edge but you haven’t quite yet fallen. “Bait” is the last of the three singles that had been released prior to the record’s drop — and it is easily the most beautiful. If “Living Hell” is the emotional climax, then “Bait” is the comedown. It’s ethereal and haunting, like you’ve finally fallen asleep after so many restless nights. Closing out the record is “Eraser” — the end to the tumultuous story. The drawn-out chords and memoriam-like lyrics leave the album on a somber note. While not victorious, it is still a very definitive end to this story. It is the only track from the record to fade out at its conclusion, adding to the funeral-esque end to the journey. 

Overall, Seahaven’s Halo of Hurt is an incredibly successful album — especially as their first piece of new discography in six years. It tells a powerful story of anxiety, depression, and deterioration that listeners can really identify with. It’s cohesive, with the tones of each piece bleeding almost seamlessly into the next. Seahaven is made up of four incredibly talented instrumentalists and each member is highlighted throughout the record. Fans, new and old, will fall in love with this album as they anxiously await to see what the future holds for the group.

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