Encapsulating a flawless pitch between breathless desperation and melodic richness, ‘A Beautiful White’ quite simply delivers the most accomplished and compelling piece of work we have seen yet from Heart In Hand, a band long since considered at the forefront of the British melodic hardcore scene.
Taking their signature dynamics and emotionally charged gusto, what sees this third full length such an unabashed triumph is a tenfold upswing in songwriting potency. The sumptuous fretwork and scream along dramatics of ‘Mae and the following title track is as an arresting one-two punch opening as we will see this year, whilst else where the rollicking hardcore stomp of ‘Colours And Chemicals’ and the spin on a dime ‘News Years Eve’ prove to be undeniable highlights.
Indeed, ‘A Beautiful White’ weaves such a bountiful tapestry of instrumental delights and chest beating hooks that it rarely dips below stellar. ‘Regain.Recover.Reprise’ climaxes with some utterly gorgeous guitar interplay, ‘Never Agains’ thunderous mid point breakdown is tailor made for that underground, basement show pile on with its ‘YOU ARE NOTHING, YOU ARE NO-ONE’ refrain, and ‘Poison Pen Letters’ sees front-man Charlie Holmes at his frantically bug eyed best.
Melancholic, majestic, abundantly frenzied and with a liberal dash of violence, for all those striving to wrestle away Heart In Hand’s crown, ‘A Beautiful White’ represents a game changer, and will ensure they sit that MH throne just while longer yet. 8/10
Tony Bliss 