Harboured – We’re Only the Love That We Lead

At first glance, Atmospheric Black / Post Metal is a challenging genre description to unleash on your ears. It certainly hits on all “contemporary stuff” markers, but what are the key elements to keep it from devolving into a bleak snoozer? Well, Denver’s Harboured are returning with their sophomore full-length “We’re Only the Love That We Lead”, serving up a skillful assembly that really works.

The band may be independent, but the members of this trio might ring bells from their higher profile flagships: Both vocalist & guitarist Michael Stancel and bassist Brandon Michael are in Allegaeon; drummer Cierra White slams with Emasculator when she’s not providing Folk Metal grooves to Oak, Ash & Thorn. Formed in 2020 around the Covid period, they served up their initial, eponymous full-length in 2023. “Harboured” outlines the direction of the band well, while being a bit of a diamond in the rough regarding composition and execution.

The fresh release “We’re Only the Love That We Lead” starts off intensely by virtue of its title – trying to sort out the meaning is a daunting task by itself. By the time the music gets rolling, the answer to our initial question begins to unfold. Quality in the details and tasteful choices in composition are the deciding factors to make the album stand out. The soundscape is distinct yet natural. An organic production, it features moderate gain on guitar, majestic bass crunch, thick drums, and balanced, yet ethereal synth pads. Stancel and Michael appear to have a fully tech-satisfying outlet in Allegaeon, as “We’re Only the Love That We Lead” eschews flexy chops entirely, in preference of a patient approach that lets vibes settle before moving on.

As echoed in by the gloomy artwork, one might expect a purely downhearted experience. But upon complete digestion, the album is full of uplifting and graceful moments.  Context plays a significant role, as the material appears to be deliberately arranged. ‘Sevin’ closes out with the most harsh and abrasive segment on the album, giving way to an emotive contrast in the delicate and hopeful ‘Guardrail’ – kids, this is why you should listen to albums and not singles! Similarly, ‘Halifax’ starts off in a minimalistic manner, with lo-fi guitar and gentle singing, making the later heavily layered and expansive climax appear even more lavish.

The drumming is especially worth mentioning. Without being obtrusive, White is presenting a full spectrum of percussive features: The push-pull of slightly dragged China-cymbal quarters in the opening track, or the dramatic syncopated phrasing in ‘Halifax’, add a proper voice to the band’s spectrum. Drawing the connection to Black Metal, several frantic beats over highly layered segments form a trance-inducing vibe, akin to the recent Enslaved releases. Harboured effectively leverages these qualities by patiently riding motives and letting the underlying vibe sink.

After hinting at a conclusion with ‘End Credits’, Harboured throws an oddball encore with ‘Agenda Suicide’, a possibly hard to recognize cover from the electro-leaning rock band The Faint. Dressed in a somewhat more intense arrangement, it gives a bit of insight to Harboured’s musical origins.

In conclusion, “We’re Only the Love That We Lead” may not be the defining album of a novel genre, but still a sublime record by virtue of its qualities. Those who enjoy an emotive and expressive listening experience and have the patience to listen through an album front-to-back, should definitely give it a spin.

Track list:

1. W.O.T.L.T.W.L.
2. Dead Ringer
3. Sevin
4. Guardrail
5. New Year’s Day
6. Debts
7. Halifax
8. End Credits
9. Agenda Suicide (The Faint cover)