Misthaven
Aces

LA RECENSIONE

Misthaven, the band of "I didn't think it could happen, not here".

Indeed. Because it is truly surreal to believe that such a project could be born in the southern inland regions of Italy, cross the barriers of the Matese, and reach beyond the borders of the peninsula, even presenting itself, like a hologram, overseas.
It almost sounds like a fantasy story, but for the very young band from Campobasso, it is nothing but reality taking shape through suggestive notes and images.

Formed in Campobasso in the not-too-distant 2014, Misthaven already boasts three small productions (Born Among The Ashes, and the Bleed and Newborn, ndr) and numerous radio airplays at both national and international levels, paving the way for the realization of this brand-new Aces.

Ironically, Aces is indeed a poker of aces. A victory on all fronts, that of a debut album that already exudes mature production, free to express itself without needing to provide explanations of any kind. Aces, in fact, speaks for itself, starting with the evocative cover: an ace of hearts, the best card in the game, symbolizing everything related to the emotional sphere. And indeed, focusing on the lyrics, it's not surprising that behind the allegorical guise, one can find a much more deeply rooted meaning in the experiences and feelings that everyone faces sooner or later in life.

Ten tracks comprise this brand-new album, entirely self-produced and distributed in digital stores by the band, which has been compared, from the start, for its sound, atmosphere, and the presence of a dark female voice, to Evanescence, and despite the responsibility of a label with significant weight, manages not to disappoint when faced with the most important test.

What is most peculiar about Aces is its ability to combine the darker sounds of European Symphonic with the catchy tunes of overseas radio hits: "The Bless" and "Won't Look Back" are emblematic of this.
The same cannot be said for "House of Ades", "The Chance", and "Melted Past", which are essentially more melancholic in tone, and oriented towards heavy colors and rhythms: there is, especially in the first two, a pronounced European influence, almost reminiscent of Within Temptation, in the verses and bridges.
"On Springs and Hopes" and "In Time", on the other hand, represent the alternative in this production: the first is a piano and voice acoustic track, the second an orchestral gothic ballad, summarizing the feminine elegance of a group in which there are two women.
However, the cornerstone of this Aces is the tracks "Sunwarmth" and "Here Comes War": on one hand, the captivating electric ballad with a stunning final solo, on the other, the energy and pathos of a composition that openly shows the band's classical influence.

Varied, complex, yet essentially catchy: Aces is an album that doesn't require explanations.
It speaks for itself. And it will make people talk.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5YcCrIqa7k51us8jO7KY4v?si=O7bZsnbTQti3WRcubgSoOw