If you’re looking for pure, unbridled ferocity then Heights’ debut record is the place to come. It is rare for completely unrestrained anger to sound as utterly fantastic as this full-length from the Welwyn Garden City quintet. Having released the barnstorming, and freely available, EP 'The Land, The Ocean, The Distance' in 2009, Heights found themselves attracting the attention of hardcore enthusiasts up and down the country. The youngsters have quickly risen through seemingly constant touring and, in particular, festival slots afforded them by participation in the Red Bull Bedroom Jam competition last year. Having attracted attention from punters, the band then attracted the attention of the Mediaskare label and so 'Dead Ends' arrives as the product of Britain’s most promising signed hardcore band.
This isn’t a promising record however. This fulfils all the promise you could possibly want in a debut. Heights sound like they will do some serious damage when they take this record on the road, if they are even half as pissed-off as they sound here. Vocalist Thomas Debaere’s throat ripping screams are bloody terrifying when combined with the wall of guitar accompanying them. Expect this record to inflict a serious aural battering because that is exactly what it does.
Barely is there a moment on this, overwhelmingly intense, album that doesn’t make you feel like you want to go fucking mental, but when there is it only adds to the experience. The occasional touches of piano or atmospheric Isis-esque riffery are what take this beast to the next level. There is a reason why this band likes to call themselves ‘epic hardcore’ after all. Whether you take the gang vocals of 'The Lost and Alone', the opening mission statement of 'We Live Alone...' or the closer '...And that’s How We Die' it is clear that Heights have a sound that it is widescreen as it is unrelentingly brutal. Although the vocals are no doubt a little too bark-like for some and the lack of variety may irk some, these are problems that are associated with most good records of this kind. For what it is, 'Dead Ends' is almost as perfectly executed as it could possibly be.
As someone who has watched this band’s development closely, their being one of the few bands from my local ‘scene’, such as it is, that have ever shown any real promise in my eyes, it is immensely satisfying to see Heights achieve something spectacular as they have done here. This record is, simply put, a must-have for hardcore fans and for fans of heavy music in general. Heights are going to tear you apart, what’s the point in resisting?
Album Rating: 9/10
'Dead Ends' is out on 21st June via Mediaskare Records. Heights are almost constantly on tour. Check out www.facebook.com/weareheights for updates.
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This isn’t a promising record however. This fulfils all the promise you could possibly want in a debut. Heights sound like they will do some serious damage when they take this record on the road, if they are even half as pissed-off as they sound here. Vocalist Thomas Debaere’s throat ripping screams are bloody terrifying when combined with the wall of guitar accompanying them. Expect this record to inflict a serious aural battering because that is exactly what it does. 
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