NEVER TRUST A PUMPKIN: “Dreams From a Withered Heart” Post-Hardcore’s Winning Formula!

Posted By: Rick JammPosted date: November 12, 2013in: Reviews1 Comment

We reviewed NEVER TRUST A PUMPKIN during May this year, when the Swedish Post-Hardcore group released their single, “I’m Wearing White At Your Funeral”. We were left ecstasized by Linus Gustafsson(Vocals), Felix Hagstedt(Guitar), Joel Edvardsson(Guitar), Joakim “Jocke” Johansson(Bass), Boppe Axelsson(Drums) and “an urgent, insane, and awesome piece of music.”

We promised to wait patiently for the release, of their then upcoming Ep, to discover just how much more this band could deliver. Now finally “Dreams From a Withered Heart” is here! The set has five songs, including the acclaimed “I’m Wearing White At Your Funeral” and straight off the bat all expectations are met.

The winning formula of NEVER TRUST A PUMPKIN is a mixture of four totally different styles, Brit vocal and lyrics, Post-Hardcore rhythm guitars, neck-breaking Metal guitar riffs and solos, ultra-energetic drum and bass rhythms. And this Ep displays just how superbly and easily they do it.

The 5 track Ep is a combination of strong melodies, smart and exciting arrangements, breath-taking duel guitars, and their mashed-up sound which is totally refreshing. I was impressed with them on their single release in May, but this time, they floored me. The music is nothing short of amazing. I had chills going up and down my spine when I heard the first track “In A Second I’ll Be Gone”. The riffs, and tune is catchy, and the singer’s death metal growl on this one, is really filled with emotion. You can feel the music.

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A part from “I’m Wearing White At Your Funeral”, my favorite tracks on the album are “You Better Run”, “Cyanide” and “I’ll Keep You Safe”. The songs are amazing. Catchy and great to sing your lungs out to, that’s if you’re able to keep up with Linus’ lung capacity and evil growl.

I am a die-hard product of classic 70’s and 80’s rock. Very little music today moves me, as the musicianship and commitment to melody in today’s bands has taken a drastic step backwards. However, there are some exceptions. NEVER TRUST A PUMPKIN is one of them, they really pour their hearts out into the music and do it with catchy melodies, which is somewhat of a forgotten staple in music nowadays.

With their raging rhythms, crunching guitars, and captivating vocals, NEVER TRUST A PUMPKIN have proven themselves worthy to be set apart from the more generic and uninteresting Post-Hardcore bands that deliver bland, mundane tunes. This is a group that you can proudly blare at full blast on your stereo or MP3 player, and anyone with any real taste in modern rock can’t touch you!