HAUNT - Ignite (Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless

With each passing year comes another Haunt record, and considering we got one this year closer to fall, it may be safe to say this is the largest gap between records. Dreamers early last year marked the first significant shift in sound since several albums prior, a much needed adjustment to avoid stagnation. An obvious lean into a dreamier sound was present, but I would argue that now we have a full record that gives itself into that entirely. Ignite is the name, also our first record to touch ten tracks without the inclusion of re-recordings.

Thus, one should go into this expecting the similar makeup of no lax in terms of melodic and weighty riffs with a softer overtone. This time, the emphasis is cast harder on the latter, making for a larger dose of songs I’d go as far as calling “pretty.” Weirdly, this is done without the need for synthesizers (and if they’re present, I certainly didn’t catch them). An instant favorite was “Soaring Through The Ages,” using cleaner vocal and lead guitar combos for a sweeter taste tied off with a catchy chorus. The title track works this in with a softer center, utilizing clean tones, and “Early Grave” has such a somber feel to it, which also opts for a cleaner exit. Hell, closer “If I Said Goodnight” mixes this with an extremely slow crawl, a rare feature for Trevor and Co. that could fit the bill as a ballad.

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Yet, there may just be a few moments that challenge this overall narrative. Ignite doesn’t have a lot in terms of keeping it heavy for the full range, but a harder solo in “Eventide” mixes wonderfully with jarring breaks and softer melodies better than you’d expect. “Not The Same” also opens on a striking note, melting perfectly into one of the catchier verse-chorus structures, before falling into a drum-heavy bridge that returns us to the lighter feel. If that isn’t enough, “Long, Cold, Lonely Winter” really stretches this with its almost Sting/Police like repetition, a bright solo, and an extremely smooth surface. More pronounced drumming goes far on this disc as a whole, acting as a surface breaker for the softer glaze.
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At the end of the day, this isn’t anything overly original, but it further cements my theory that Haunt have recently found new ground since making synths a more prominent part of the experience (and seemingly now ditching them). It’s an exercise that shows what production alone can do to a softer idea, and I can confidently say this is a strong record. Considering the occult-glazed image that comes with the band, I have to wonder how moving towards dark tones and spooky concepts could fare with this influence moving forward. The frontman is no stranger to doom, but reinventing it for this project could be neat.

Haunt - Ignite was released August 13th, 2025 via Church Recordings. Find it here!

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Haunt can be found at Bandcamp and Facebook