Haste The Day’s ‘Dissenter’ Captures The Heart of Panic, Anger, and Controlled Chaos — Album Review

1.  A person who dissents, as from an established church, political party, or majority opinion.

2. An English Protestant who dissents from the Church of England.

3. Haste The Day’s seventh studio album.

Waiting 11 years between albums is a risky choice for any band.  This kind of move jeopardizes the fanbase as they grow up and may change their musical tastes. While this sort of decision has paid off for bands such as Tool, Guns N’ Roses, and The Who, other lesser-known bands have suffered the consequences of losing any relevance they once had.

As a Christian metalcore band, Haste The Day already has a few cards stacked against them. Add in the controversy that they replaced the original lead singer, Jimmy Ryan, in 2006, and you get a convoluted math equation that could easily equal disaster. Nonetheless, the band decided to let the chips fall where they may with the release of ‘Dissenter.’

The album begins with the instrumental track “Cycles.” Choosing to start a piece of work with straight-up instrumentation helps the project to feel more cohesive. The siren-like sounds wailing in and out of the speakers build a slight anticipation for what’s to come. Including similar reverberations in other tunes, such as “Shallows,” “Burn,” and “Escape,” shows the band to be a master of their art.

Unfortunately, this sirenical tone seems oddly familiar in this genre, preventing the band from making a statement right out of the gate. As mentioned before, with over a decade’s lapse in releases, you really need to remind the audience why they should be paying attention. This opener underperforms in terms of captivation.

“Cycles” gives way to “Shallows,” a song that feels much more familiar to the fandom. After a few up and down bars of blazing guitars, lead singer Stephen Keech rips into an uproarious scream, capturing the heart of panic, anger, and controlled chaos.

Within this category of music, these vocals are entirely at home. Barely clear enough to understand, but raw enough to ensnare the emotion.

The lyrics describe a similar pain we all experience — sin and suffering.

“We all bleed for the same crime” repeats in the refrain, portraying us all as breakers of God’s laws. Although our flaws can be radically different, they wholly stop us from measuring up to His extremely high standards. Continuing with the phrase “Bury them all,” Keech instructs us to kill the iniquity inhumed in our souls by dying to ourselves daily.

Track 3, “Grave,” keeps the pulse-pounding sound mechanisms while making way for cleaner vocals. The lead singer’s ability to switch between crisp and distorted melodies isn’t altogether unique, but his level of radical intensity throughout is a trait seldom seen.

The libretto gives a sense of hopelessness and expiration. “Half dead with one foot in the grave” sells a finality no one can recover from. With the sole aspiration of “only dreaming,” the bleakness never quite gives way to light.

Next up, “Burn” bridges the gap between “Grave” and “Shallows,” marrying the two despite their excessive differences. Growls intertwined with strains and screams, laced with elegance, create an inescapable ferocity.

Similar to ‘The Song of Moses’ in Exodus chapter 15, this anthem celebrates the subduing of God’s enemy. Through absolute destruction, the adversary is decimated, allowing the victor to burn bright like the sun. We are lifted high in God’s might, becoming more than conquerors in every sense of the word — cementing God’s promise made in Romans 8:37.

On “Liminal,” Haste The Day joins forces with fellow rockers Silent Planet. The two bands fit together seamlessly, creating a composition without compromise. The words and music wallop in an equally arduous process, forming a well-founded claim that life is not an intended location but simply transitional.

Put succinctly, every human has been put on a trajectory towards the great beyond. Each volition we make advances the expedition, leading us towards our terminus. While it is never firmly stated here, the canonical answer is to opt for deliverance through Jesus Christ.

The song name “Gnasher” conjures up several different images from throughout the New Testament — the prevalent one being Matthew 13:42, “They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Here, Keech is calling on other believers to revolt against heretics and their manipulative ways. By dissenting, fellow zealots can liberate themselves from oppression to find sovereignty.

Heretic has been an authoritative word used throughout the entirety of Christianity to describe a person who intrinsically opposes doctrinal belief. During track 7, “Heretic,” the versifier confronts these apostates, refusing to hold back or bite their tongue.

The vocabulary appears to be slanted towards those who preach the prosperity gospel. Evanglists such as Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and Kenneth Copeland minister about a god who wants to satisfy your every whim. They speak not of sin, death, and the devil but of living a life of abundance.

While it is true that God wants to bless His children, He also allows them to suffer the consequences of their sin. A good god cannot permit transgression to run amok amongst his people any more than a police officer can turn a blind eye to a blatant disregard of the law.

“Escape” comes in slow and ethereal with a mood similar to the late 90s’ version of the Deftones. With low and nearly guttural growls, Keech pines for something that surpasses our earthly home and bodies.

Asking God to help us elude our pain, trauma, and anguish, the singer connects with the fans on the most basic level. We all comprehend the need to elevate beyond our current situation, even if it is outside our capabilities. Relying on external influence helps us transcend our physical and mental limitations, broadening us to integrate with a higher and holier being.

As many historical philosophers have already said, “Divine fortitude outlasts human resilience.”

Digging deeper into nu-gaze, “Adrift” builds an additional layer of atmosphere that is heavy in all the right places. Once the steady drumbeat enters the stage, one can’t help but move along with the music. While you might not dance, your soul will animate.

Living in a sinful world, believers often have a disconnection with their creator, generating a type of identity crisis. Without a linchpin, there is nothing to espouse us to what we want to be. The pithy response is stated in Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”

Gearing itself towards an end, “Teeth” amps the aria into a sneer, allowing a defiant punk rock tone that has been unheard of so far on this record. The befitting theme of revolt pairs nicely with a glass of haterade.

Sadly, raging against the machine oftentimes has unintended consequences. To criticize is also to commercialize.

The momentous and climactic closer, “Oblivion,” tiptoes in on stringed instruments, symphonic in nature, and including lyrics that ache for companionship. A love song against the backdrop of armageddon irrevocably establishes a yearning for steadfast devotion.

Finding consolation and alleviation for the world’s end is the objective of man’s ambitions and aspirations. Everyone hopes never to truly say goodbye.

Making a revival album is a very tricky maneuver. One must show that the band has progressed over the years without making a radical departure from who they once were — evolution versus deviation.

Haste The Day shows an abundance of maturity on ‘Dissenter,’ illuminating their musical prowess, while deepening their thematic depth and lyrical substance. The question is whether it’s sufficient to keep them relevant.

This is contingent on the fans’ allegiance. The diehard and devoted will appreciate the band’s endeavor, disregarding deficiencies, and applauding their capacity to expand on a robust library. But integrating new enthusiasts is more precocious.

The adequate attention needed to create future zealots is minuscule when viewed with a discerning eye. ‘Dissenter’ appears inconsequential in the grand scope of all things metal. To summarize, this album is a tad superfluous.

Currently, bands such as Bad Omens and Spiritbox lay the groundwork for impending scene changes. Their competence in altering the soundscape is advantageous to any band. Unfortunately, Haste The Day isn’t quite there yet.

What is your favorite track on ‘Dissenter?’ Let us know in the comments below.

Listen to ‘Dissenter.’