At one point, Greywind were touted for big things. However, the music industry can be a shitty place, and if expectations aren’t met, you soon become yesterday’s news. Nine years on, Steph and Paul O’Sullivan have clawed their way back to deliver a second album, ‘Severed Heart City’. For the Irish brother-sister emo duo, it’s an opportunity to correct their course, and one that proves to be vibrant.
Having routinly dropped singles over the past 12 months, those who have followed Greywind will be familiar with a bulk of the material found on here. That’s not a fault of the band; it’s just the way the industry and algorithms are now these days. Nevertheless, when it’s all presented together, ‘Severed Heart City,’ prospers for various reasons. For starters, the O’Sullivan siblings are more than capable of writing massive emo-rock hooks. ‘Acid Rain’ and ‘Make Believe (L.O.V.E. ME)’ are obvious examples of this, offering plenty of longevity. Musically, Greywind has confidently tapped into a familiar sound built on bold, emotional hooks. It helps that Steph’s routinely delivers soaring hooks, full of personality.
The formation of Greywind stemmed from the tragic loss of their uncle, and with all the ups and downs the pair have been through since then, ‘Severed Heart City’ allows them to pour all out in the open. Whether that’s on ‘Happy :)’, with its transparent mental struggles, or ‘Waterfall’s isolated words, the Sullivans build a world of self-doubt and hurt. Yet, it’s more often than not paired with soaring hooks. ‘The Scarecrow’ allows the pair to show their softer side, allowing Steph to provide an emotional outpouring. Through her angelic voice, she paints a picture of uncertainty and hopelessness, yet her (and Paul’s) pursuit of making music persists. It’s a dramatic moment amid a rush of anthemic emo-rock.
Sure, Greywind aren’t reinventing the wheel, but they know their strengths, and they’ve pinned them down on this digestible album. Alongside Steph’s powerful voice, brother Paul, and producer Sam Guaiana (Neck Deep, Silverstein, Holding Absence), deliver a large, layered sound without ever sounding overcrowded. While there are subtle stylistic nods to those who have come before them (My Chemical Romance and Jimmy Eat World), ‘Severed Heart City’ has enough about it to make Greywind‘s return more than fleeting. If anything, they’ve taken this second opportunity by the horns and given it their all.
‘Severed Heart City’ by Greywind is released on January 16th on FLG.
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