Band: Heartsounds
Album title: Drifter
Label: Epitaph
Distributor: PIAS
Release date: 25/07/2011
Release: CD

Sounds from the heart: that's what Heartsounds put out on their second Epitaph release, called Drifter. Hailing from San Francisco, California, they bring sunshine back by playing fast and melodic punk rock songs like it used to sound in the 90's.
Not only musically the band has been through a huge evolution, but also vocally. This can especially be heard in the song Elements, in which you can also hear a guest performance of the singer of Strung Out. Heartsounds can easily be compared to huge punk rock bands such as Rufio. Especially the guitar pieces make me think of this legendary band who were brought back to life earlier this year.
The most remarkable thing about Heartsounds' new album is that Laura Nichol's voice is less present. You can still hear her voice in the background, but it's quite obvious that the band wanted to focus more on one voice.
Drifter turned out to be a hell of a good punk rock album. When you're listening to the album and you're waiting for some sort of break, don't count on it ... it's punk rock, you know. Punk rock never slows down !

90/100

Nick Tronckoe.