Deaf Havana – All These Countless Nights

All These Countless Nights is a remarkable return to form for Deaf Havana whose future looked in peril until recently.

After 11 years, the Norfolk five-piece are a far different band than when they started but frontman James Veck-Gilodi’s strong vocals and deeply personal lyrics have always shined through.

Taking their time with the writing and recording, Deaf Havana’s fourth album strips things back to basics, documenting the people and places Veck-Gilodi has experienced since their last album, Old Souls. Raw and brutally honest, it also contains tracks relating to his battle with alcohol.

Unlike their last record which leaned a little too heavily on a Springsteen-influence at times, All These Countless Nights mixes the band’s trademark huge choruses and soaring melodies with a modern hard-hitting sound, closer to their second album, Fools and Worthless Liars.

Opener Ashes serves a dual purpose of laying to rest the old Veck-Gilodi as he talks about taking control of his life. The album manages to blend in the heavier tracks such as latest single Fever with its thundering bass-line next to the acoustic Happiness.

Perhaps the band’s most eclectic album yet, it is these 12 tracks which best define what Deaf Havana want to be. Laying out their souls, this record should give the band the renewed energy and confidence to take these stadium rock size tracks out of the dark.

All These Countless Nights is out tomorrow, Friday.

LEE HARMAN