By Robyn Morrison
Belle Haven have put their stamp on the post-hardcore scene by releasing their debut album, Everything Ablaze. It’s the follow-up to their EP, Onus, and a step up in the right direction of where this band should be heading.
“It was a conscious decision to write that record,” explains vocalist, David Vernon. “We’d written a five-track EP that we released ourselves and that gave us the foundation for our following that liked our sound. That EP was out for so long and we hadn’t considered writing another record. Then we asked ourselves: ‘what are we doing? Let’s write a new record.’” And that’s what they did.
Vernon explains the album was a natural growth for both him and his band mates. “I spent so long trying to decide what I wanted to write about that I decided I’d write about what I was passionate about. When figuring out what we wanted to do musically and lyrically, we decided we just wanted to write for ourselves. The most important thing to us is we can get up on stage and play Hunt For Health and we’ve played it a few times live now, that moment where you say: ‘man, that song rules! I love jamming this song and listening to it. That’s what kicked off the writing.”
Just as Belle Haven started writing the new album, the band had a couple of line-up changes before they became the band we know today. Vernon also explains he was in an abusive relationship at the time of creating their debut. “It’s hard to want to sit and write when you’re feeling sorry for yourself. I was almost in a state that I couldn’t be bothered. I was so sad about my situation that I wasn’t passionate about writing. Chris [Vernon], our guitarist and my brother, was going through a similar situation. Things like that can really confuse you and slow you down.”
Not only does the band have a new album, they’re heading out on tour with Norma Jean this April. “If you want to come early [to the shows] and have an emotional release, let’s do that. Come hang out and you might fall in love with our music too.
“Fans is a word that we shy away from,” he continues. “We’ve never viewed them like that. Ever. Those wonderful people that come to our shows and buy a t-shirt, a record or even just watch us, without those people we’d be standing in a room by ourselves. We might as well just be practicing in the studio.”
Everything Ablaze is released on 27 March 2015 via Halfcut/Shock Records.
Belle Haven will be on tour with Norma Jean through April.
Tour Dates
2 April – Crowbar, Brisbane
3 April – Easterfest, Toowoomba
5 April – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
6 April – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
9 April – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
10 April – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
11 April – Fowlers Live, Adelaide
12 April – Amplifier Bar, Perth
