Silent Homes is metalcore from a place I don't think I have heard the genre before: Budapest. I never would have guessed listening to Soul Harbour, as it bares all of the marks we find from it here in the states: solid production, killer melodies, and of course the English language. Which leads me to further reinforce the mission statement that we should leave no stone unturned when it comes to music. While perhaps being at a bit of a geographical disadvantage when it comes to touring, support, and (perhaps) demand for this genre; Silent Homes lack none of that talent.
If you, like me, prefer your metalcore on the progressive and technical side; you will feel right at home with this album. The combination of glorious melody with instrumental acrobatics is right on par with acts like August Burns Red, After the Burial, Orient Fall, and Periphery. Of the four, Silent Homes fits in the niche closest to the former, as you won't hear a ton of the low-end djent style on Soul Harbour. The focus is much more on blasting full speed through riff after riff and amazing leads. You;ll be fist-pumping in no time.
True to form, there is plenty of raw emotion on this album as well. This comes through both in the soulful guitar work and the vocals. The majority of the vox come through in that unfiltered hardcore/post-hardcore range that keep just enough bite while still conveying a spectrum of feelings the listener can pick up on. I haven't really delved into the lyrics, but the response was much more reflexive and internal in that way...I didn't need to think about what he was saying to recognize the weight behind it. There is also some clean singing scattered throughout the EP that is used effectively and performed to standard.
In sum, Silent Homes is an exciting new act that I look forward to hearing more from in the future. It's always impressive to see the ball hit out of the park so clearly on a first go, so I hope what follows only continues to blossom into something the band can truly call their own. Help these guys bring their name beyond their borders and keep the metal in metalcore alive. Stream it in full below and name your own price to keep a digital copy.