Review: Heel – 'The Parts We Save'

I’m a fairly level-headed guy. Nothing much gets under my skin for long, a kind of c’est la vie attitude to everything… that is apart from the phrase ‘alt­ rock’. Whoever first coined that phrase needs to have a word with themselves. Yes, I know that ‘alt ­rock’ supposedly means different to the ‘normal’ mainstream rock but think about it for a moment… alt­ rock, an alternative to rock, basically. Coldplay are ‘Alt ­Rock’ because they don’t. Bieber is ‘Alt­ Rock’ because he doesn’t, but Heel are not ‘Alt­ Rock’ because to put it bluntly, they do fucking rock! So let’s consign the phrase to Room 101 and maybe perhaps Chris Martin & Co too?

Heel are quickly making a name for themselves, thanks to their energetic and dazzling brand of R­O­C­K. Kerrang Radio and Scuzz TV have also came along for the ride. It’s a shame, though, that magazines are searching high and low for a replacement for Paramore, but fail to see what’s directly under their collective noses. ‘The Parts We Save’ has more energy and more edge than the recent Tonight Alive album ‘Limitless’, and Paramore’s last album combined, and thankfully, the Londoners debut album bucks the rather worrying trend of turning the guitars down in the mix. Take ‘Yellow & Bliss’ for instance. Take out Margarita’s vocals, and you are left with the musical backbone of what could be an Alter Bridge song. Or the intro to album opener ‘An Apology’. Screeching high-pitched guitars influenced by Matt Bellamy from Muse. No bones about it, Heel know that a guitar is not just for show.

The afore mentioned ‘An Apology’ is a great album opener, a real statement of intent. The vocals from Margarita are particularly impressive, very alluring and easy on the ears. More Gwen Stefani than Hayley Williams, but with a shit-ton more attitude. There are great hooks and some nice guitar from Dan, who formed the band in 2011 with Margarita. ‘Selfish Burn’ continues in the same vein with a song perfect for prime time radio, whereas ‘Yellow & Bliss’ is the current video/single, and showcases the great work from Fred and Nick, on bass and drums respectively. I love the way that the vocals change tack mid-­song, and they simply soar as Dan comes in with a sweet solo. Margarita’s vocals are enchanting, and carry a mystical quality, kind of like the Sirens of Greek mythology, who lured sailors to their deaths with their beautiful singing.

‘Nothing New’ has an almost Ska-­like strut about it, and I can imagine some frantic pogo-­ing action during this one live. I love that I can hear the guitars way up. ‘Shatter’ would be perfect as the next single, melodic without being too commercial, and rocking enough without scaring the day time radio listeners. It actually has you double-checking the fact that this is indeed Heel’s debut album as it’s very polished and mature.