Written by Katelynn Williams
On October 15th, New Jersey band Halogens released their debut LP “You’re Being Weird” via Refresh Records. The album’s tracklist contains eleven songs including Halogen’s three 2021 singles, “Talking Shit,” “Sit Around,” and “Without Warning.”
The album's opening song is also the album’s first single, “Talking Shit.” The track is driven by shrilling guitars and steady drums. The melodic nature of the song fused with it’s lyrical content of having a hard time letting go of past relationships helps to set the tone for the rest of the album.
“Sit Around” is the second song on the album, featuring Sentient Moss. Acting as a more high-energy older sibling of “Talking Shit,” the second track features more emotional vocals with more filling guitar licks and busier drums.
“Sit Around” explains the feeling of being stuck in the past and not being able to move forward. However, the fun nature of the song does anything but make the listener want to “sit around.”
The third track of the debut LP is “Burnout.” “Burnout” is a song where the guitar work on the album really gets its chance to shine!
From the whimsical guitar licks to the shredding guitar riffs, the guitar parts definitely take a lead. From the opening riff, this track makes you want to jump out of your seat.
If “Burnout” was the track where guitars really drove the song, then “A Pleasant Day” is the drums spotlight. The song has pounding drums that carry throughout the song along with sporadic guitar riffs that move the song forward.
This song lyrically describes wanting to continue having a good day while not trying to let all the smaller things build up and get to you. A personal highlight is the high vocals that are built up to in the lines, “Well I hate the rich but I hate being poor / I don’t think I like this job anymore.”
“Windmill” starts as a more mellow track that shifts at the last part of the song. This slow build mirrors the lyrical content of the song as the lyrics move from being more critical of one’s self in a relationship to being more critical of the other party. A perfect example of this lies in the lyrics, “I don’t really like the beach that much but I keep going just to keep hearing all these red flags that should waver me.”
After this lyricsl shift, there is a guitar solo that brings in the high energy drums that lead out the song.
“Critical” is a fun song about being over analytical of everyone and everything you encounter. This song, despite having super fun guitar parts, also really allows the bass to be heard!
“Carcinogens” opens with a borderline club beat that soon descends into what almost feels like a trap beat. The song is slightly different sonically from the rest of the album yet still features the whimsical guitar riffs that Halogens have established throughout this album. The lyrical content also does not stray far from the rest of their debut, speaking on the feelings of self loathing, loneliness, and bitterness after an ended relationship.
The next track “Bonfire” is a song about learning to let go of the resentment that once had you crying yourself to sleep at night.
“Without Warning” opens with a lonesome guitar progression soon met with pounding drums and the accompaniment of twinkling melodic guitar segments as well as gritty distorted guitar riffs. This dynamic is carried throughout the song in a subtle way with each instrument getting its moment of the spotlight in the song.
The contrast between softer and louder portions of the song reflects the battle of dealing with the intrusive thoughts in the lyrics. With lyrics like “And If I wasn’t meant to be here / Then why was I even made / Just a joke for the creator, I wager/ I was a mistake that got away,” the additional vocals performed by Tyler Povanda of Save Face help bring an emphasis to the existential thought by serving as almost an echo of the restlessness of the pent up thoughts.
“Creature of Habit” is an interlude about having to be moved forward by those around you as you make baby steps towards progress. The song manages to make the listener feel as though they are sitting in their own head and listening to their own thoughts.
“Creature of Habit” leads into the last song on the album “Fifth of July,” a song that entertains a feeling we all know too well–leaving it until tomorrow. The song wraps up the album with echoing vocals and a guitar solo that drives that hopeful feeling of maybe it will get better!
You can stream “You’re Being Weird” on all platforms now! You can keep up with Halogens by following them on Twitter @HalogensNJ! You can support Halogens by buying their merch here! Don’t forget to tweet us @lgndsoftmrw and let us know what your thoughts on “You’re Being Weird” are!
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