HeartBeatHero -Halloween 2024
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
HeartBeatHero’s Halloween 2024 is an entertainingly ghoulish and shadowy album that takes listeners on a highly enjoyable ride through synthscapes that seethe with darkness and erupt with macabre playfulness. I enjoy the way in which HeartBeatHero evokes classic '80s horror movie vibes and other equally dark and delicious sounds, along with the irrepressible energy exuded by the synth layers that wrap around my ears with atmospheric intensity.
One of the elements I enjoy most on Halloween 2024 is the way that HeartBeatHero plays with the music. He doesn't take it too seriously in his approach, despite making seriously well-crafted music. I enjoy the playful horror movie atmosphere that is exuded from the tracks on the album. There's a sense that HeartBeatHero was having a really good time as he created this music, and as a result, I have a good time listening to it.
I also enjoy the way in which HeartBeatHero creates a distinct atmosphere of terror on Halloween 2024. The dark and twisted synth sounds imbue the music with feelings of evil lurking in the shadows and those jump scares that we all used to like in classic horror movies. All in all, I did enjoy the terrifying tale that unfolds in music as the album evolves. It's the kind of Halloween album I'd listen to all year round.
Despite the music’s playful nature on Halloween 2024, the way in which HeartBeatHero created it was skillful. His ability to choose the right synth sounds and textures, along with a sense of atmosphere and drama, allowed him to paint vivid and horror-filled imagery that splashed itself across all of the tracks. I like the way in which he explores horror tropes without becoming too clichéd.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
"Death Is Coming" starts as distant, string-like notes grow in intensity and resonate into open space. The sense of threat grows as they become more powerful, emphasizing approaching peril. The string-like notes begin to draw silent as bass snarls and roams before they swell again, becoming more piercing and violent.
The growls continue, and I can feel myself getting nervous. Now razor-sharp sounds undulate as the drifting, string-like sound again becomes insistent and vigorous. A trembling sound adds more ominous notes, and the strings trickle.
I enjoy the way in which this track creates tension and drama. The spinning strings rise into sharply glowing luminosity as they continue to float below and silence begins to fall. Once more, the string-like notes climb and glisten,full of panic, before the track ends.
Seething bass pulses angrily, accompanied by slicing sounds and mechanical noises "Creep Circuit" kicks off . The bass continues to fulminate and bubble, emanating an intense sense of threat as colossal drums batter with raging energy, and hollow panpipes call out. The low end is a gigantic, muscled creature that undulates and heaves with terrifying force.
A pipe organ descends in minor key notes that deepen the drama in a way that I enjoy. The drums cascade as reverberating sounds move out above the creaking shadows below. Now the surging low end smashes in again with brutal energy, and the hollow sounds rip through. The drums rebound, slamming again before the track comes to an end.
"Techno Terror" begins with shredding, lacerating synth growling angrily, and now drums batter with assaulting force as laser-like sounds cut through the music with flaring luminosity. The bass is angry, and the low end pounds rapidly forward, relentlessly driven as the whole track snarls. The drums and bass are unrelenting, punching into the track with gigantic weight. A quickly writhing sound rushes through the music, carrying horrifying warnings within.
The drums and bass form a rhythmic heartbeat as a hi-hat quickly ticks, contributing a metallic sense of speed to the music. The low end is full of menace and rage as massive, gleaming notes tower. I enjoy the full-on attack in this music as it unfolds. The dark storm of the melody cries out, adding a sense of jeopardy before the track ends.
A sound like icy wind blowing through empty vaults begins "Nightmares on Halloween". The sound changes in tone as it floats through the music, almost exhaling, before razor-sharp notes lacerate it with raging energy, and the drums explode into rapid forward motion. Bass walls snarl as the drums assault the track.
I enjoy the demonic power ripping forth from this track as it unfolds. The drums and bass are unrelenting, and now metallic notes rush through with aggressive energy as the deadly rhythm continues to throb. The drums launch again with rushing speed as the jagged synth edges tear into the music with destructive intent. Raw power fills the music as it explodes, and now an uneasily speeding, open-sounding synth descends.
A thousand sonic knife blades stab as the synth pulse continues to tremble with unrelenting motion, and the hollow wind blows past. The continual oscillation only adds to feelings of unstoppable, hidden horror as the graveyard wind blows. Now the slashing bass breaks apart, and the drums continue to slam hard before the track comes to an end.
Heavily surging bass rumbles, and rounded lines create a hissing percussion sound as “Cyber Ghoul” begins. The bass grows in potency as the sound of a door opening enters the track, and now the drums push the music forward while the bass snarls in the distance. The bass has a shredding weight as elevated synth echoes out in a long pulse, and whispering sounds float in the background.
The low end is intimidating, with a flat drum moving alongside more reverberant sounds, while tightly wound notes climb higher and higher. Now, the drums and bass are split by a flanging pulsation that whirls through the music with raging energy as the track charges on. Digitally glimmering synth expands with hovering energy above the crushing low-end weight. I enjoy the dramatic power that ripples through the music as the raised sounds cry out in twisting motion.
A sharp-edged pulse slices through again as computerized sounds levitate above the truly gigantic low end. The drums drive forward once more as the furious bass hits the track with great strength. The low end continues to press forward while high sounds scream out with anxious feelings. Massive propulsion builds to a high-strung synth wind-up as the digital-sounding notes resound, and the low end batters until it all comes to an end.
“The Shadow Clone” opens with creeping sounds accompanied by luscious bass. Metallic sounds are sliced by a deeply creaking bass note, like dungeon doors opening. Stabs of hard-edged, glimmering synth tear in before the music begins to surge with terrible power. Now, the drums punch into the track with grinding energy, pushing the music forward.
Bursting noises cut in again, and the drums smack into the music before lacerating sounds re-emerge. The ferocious low end is contrasted with trumpeting notes that create aching emotion. I enjoy the intensity of the contrast here. The bass and drums shatter the track as they pour out unhallowed darkness.
The track has a relentlessly driven feeling as it slams forward. The irresistible weight of the bass and its tearing fangs are punctuated by glowing noises that tremble. Now, into the open spaces around it, hollow sounds exhale, and the track rumbles like thunder. Lacerating sounds pulse again and again as the track jumps to heavy life, with the bass and drums striking before silence falls.
Conclusion
Halloween 2024 is simply a fun listening experience. I enjoy how the album is steeped in darkness but maintains a level of over-the-top entertainment that keeps me coming back for more.
