English, posh hardcore quartet, Deaf Havana have started working on the follow up to 2009's first studio album 'Meet Me Half Way', and having already supported the likes of Emarosa on their UK tour, Deaf Havana set out to be one of the new best UK bands this year with appearances with the likes of Hevy Festival and The Young Guns.

Although some what similar to their first mini album, Meet Me Halfway still has it's own uniqueness.

Opening track, This Town Is Ours is a key example of DH's independent sound, however it is not until the summer anthem of 'Friend's Like These' that this album really catches my attention.

20 year old vocalist, James Veck-Gilodi and vocalist Ryan Mellor (screaming duties) show the younger sounds of teenage angst, with the post hardcore screaming of "nothing gets worst than growing up".

Following track '3 Cheers for the Easy Life' has the signature opening sound of new British music, before taking a turn into a more veracious mix of energetic vocals and screaming. The song dies down into a melody of guest vocalist's, Gustav Wood's (Young Guns) vocals, adding a more mature feel, similar to Young Gun's track 'Daughter of the Sea'.

Tracks such as 'Another Day In The House' remind me of the early 2000 era of bands such as Lostprophets, with catchy lyrics and heavy chorded guitars. The guitars and bass seem to be fighting to be heard over the cymbals and crashes of the drums, but give a filled, layering sound to the backings.

Rather than the simplistic lyrics found in bands such as You Me At Six, James Veck-Gilodi seems to be a complex lyricist that writes with honesty and emotions of anger of a hopeless romantic.

A band with a lust for riff breakdowns and vocal hooks, there is definitely a feeling of déjà vu of the early Lostprophets and Taking Back Sunday records, but with a more raw and modern feel.

For fans of the post hardcore and metal scene, it is easy to see why I have heard this band's name come up so often with high opinions of them. A fist pumping and energetic album, that in all honesty will be going down well with festival crowds this year.

****

Review by Georgia Rawson