It’s clear from the opening drum roll, which rapidly increases from mid-level volume to forceful urgency, that the Ghent-based Huracán are hungry to make a statement. Only seconds later, it also becomes apparent that this is not your typical deliberately paced post-metal offering. With its razor-sharp riffs, propulsive drumming, and psych-rooted vocals, their third release treads skillfully across substantial, rugged grounds rumbling with echoes that recall bands ranging from The Ocean to Pelican to Pallbearer.
We Are Very Happy is a record looking to balance the dark with the light, to exhilarate as well as impassion, and to find connections between those two feelings, which have much in common even existing as they do at opposite ends of the emotional spectrum.
The album embodies both aggression and enthusiasm, displaying discontent, rage, passion, and vivacity in equal measures!
Standing in contrast to the record’s acerbic title are themes of decay, nowhere exemplified more poignantly perhaps than by friend and artist Simon Barroo, who designed the album’s visual elements and appears in the video for the title track. Even as he continues to design striking optics, Barroo himself is suffering from a slow, degenerative loss of his eyesight.
There is however a theme of bold, youthful, unwavering positivity amidst the maelstrom of ferocity that characterizes much of the record. Percussion is persistently upbeat and pacey courtesy of drummer Tijs De Langhe. Equally important is the energy level maintained in Geert Reygaert’s guitarwork and Bert Roos’ steadily pounding bass – who also provides most of the impassioned screams that accompany Christophe Willes’ vocals. Christophe himself ranges from manic to soothing, imploring and endearing all at the same time!
The album’s ethos can be glimpsed in the video for the single Bruises. A pitch-perfect visual impression of these visceral sensibilities is provided by director Wim Reygaert, who contributed guest vocals on the track, and fulfilled some production duties for the record as well. He also sourced the impassioned interpretive dance performance that drives the clip, which wasn’t created with the song in mind, but certainly feels that way when the music is matched with the frenetic gesticulation on display.
There is a high degree of both intensity and wrath in this album, a vibrant spirit and an assertive defiance in the band’s approach! Ultimately, the title perhaps isn’t as cynical as it first seems, and it is possible for exhilaration and tension to work together. Huracán undoubtedly present a confident case supporting this idea by the time the record draws to a close.
