Metal Maniac

Have a Nice Life is an American band founded in the year 2000 in Connecticut. The band blends elements of post-punk, industrial, goth, drone, ambient and shoegaze music. I’d say that the music also as a metal feel, when we talk about the experimental side of the genre, that’s why I found it suitable to be reviewed here. After gathering many positive reviews from fans and critics concerning their début album “Deathconsciousness”, released in 2008, the band returns six years later with the sophomore “The Unnatural World”.

This is a very interesting album. The blend of the genres which were mentioned on the previous paragraph is well done and not forced at all. You feel there’s experimentation overall the music, but nothing is forced, all flows naturally. This is indeed a very unique album, with a curious, almost exotic atmosphere, trippy and refined. Dissonant riffs, noise, fuzzy guitars, synths and sparse drumming complete this release. The music, at times, also feels dreamy. All in all, I really enjoyed the album; expect for a few tiny details that I will share on the next paragraph.

Please, first, be aware that this is about my tastes, I’ll let you know what I’m talking about and then tell you what didn’t “please” me that much, but, again, it’s my modest view, you might love what I didn’t like, so, don’t take anything that is being said here as negative criticism over the band. One thing that bugged me is the vocals, which are verb soaked in the background of the songs; it feels like the vocals were a bit buried in the music… And, to tell you the truth, I just didn’t really enjoy how they sound. No, I didn’t hate the vocals either, nothing like that, it’s not something that belongs to my tastes. Again, simply my personal view.

I close my thoughts by asking you to support Have a Nice Life, a band with a unique and honest approach to music. Balancing all the elements that, in my humble opinion were amazing and the only one that I didn’t enjoy so much, I find “The Unnatural World” a fantastic release, so, I urge you to do what you find it possible to do in order to help this band.

Until next time.

Grade: 9,0/10

Band: Have a Nice Life

Album: The Unnatural World (2014)

Label: The Flenser

Tracklist:

1. Guggenheim Wax Museum

2. Defenestration Song

3. Burial Society

4. Music Will Untune the Sky

5. Cropsey

6. Unholy Life

7. Dan and Tim, Reunited by Fate

8. Emptiness Will Eat the Witch

Have a Nice Life is:

Dan Barrett

Tim Macuga

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-A-Nice-Life/273357312191?sk=timeline

All photos belong to their rightful owners.