Genre/Influences: Industrial-rock, crossover.

Background/Info: Halo In Reverse isn’t exactly the most renowned and successful band from the Alfa Matrix roster. This American solo-project driven by Joshua Steffen is back, unleashing a new full length album and these eight years after “Trials And Tribulations”. In between both albums Halo In Reverse released the “King O”-EP (2013).

Content: The inspiration and song structure of Halo In Reverse clearly reminds me of NIN. Slow verses are progressively joining furious choruses driven by heavy guitar parts. Some passages are close to pure hardcore. The songs have been accomplished by electronic sequences and piano-like arrangements. On top of it all you’ll hear the enraged vocals of Joshua Steffen.

Notice by the way the last songs feature cover versions of Black Sabbath and Jesus & The Mary Chain followed by 2 remixes.

+ + + : If you’re into NIN and related bands, you will perhaps like Halo In Reverse. It’s for sure a very singular artist among all other Alfa Matrix projects. The main characteristic and strength of the album are the heavy, powerful outbursts carried by pure guitar adrenaline. It works pretty well on cuts such as “The Windy City” and “The Dark Passenger”. Another attention grabber is the electro-grunge like “That Is What It Feels Like In My Head”.

– – – : Halo In Reverse doesn’t exactly deal with ‘easy listening’-music, but the main point about this album is that I’m missing potential hits.

Conclusion: This album is for sure a new start for Halo In Reverse although I have some reservations about its impact.

Best songs: “The Windy City”, “That Is What It Feels Like In My Head”, “A River Red”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/OfficialHIR

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix