Album Review: Savage Hands – The Truth In Your Eyes

Savage Hands vocalist Michael Garrow has described the stories told on the Maryland band’s latest release as concerning truth and lies. And while it’s arguably stretching the truth to define these 11 tracks and near 40 minutes as an EP (as the band do), it’s not telling a porky to describe the collection as enjoyable.

Memory, Blue and Lonely are chief among the highlights, showcasing songwriting that’s punchy yet polished, knitting together one gripping hook after another. That being said, things take a turn into less interesting territory when the band veer away from this fine-tuned calibration, and for the most part, the plodding Rotten Soul and Washed Away remove the teeth from the otherwise gripping bite in favour of mawkishness and indulgent shoegazing.

All is not lost, however, because even in these misguided moments, The Truth In Your Eyes finds the quintet retaining an enviable passion for their craft, and showing ambitious promise.

Verdict: 3/5