Hillhaven is a band comprised of Chris Kelly, Zach Moiser, and Jaime GoWell. Together, they create a powerhouse with former members from Ice Nine Kills and From Ashes to New members who have come together for a new project. They are growing well and fast, climbing in the ranks with multiple singles and one EP in only two years.
On May 28th, Hillhaven dropped their newest single, "Dead Doesn't Hurt." With a great melodic metalcore sound meshed with hard rock vibes, this single has an eerie feel with sharp instrumentals. The vocals go back and forth from hard rock tones to metalcore with fascinating ease and speed.
The lyrics talk about a toxic relationship and a devastating betrayal that makes what used to be love feel like a curse. This song is a strike to the core for people who have been through the same. It's raw, but still fun, and, frankly, I find its structure quite enthralling. It's easy to dance or headbang to, but also easy to feel, which is always a really nice duality to have in a song.
I think it is important to note that with lyrics like, "No one ever prays for bloodshed / But one of these days, it'll be your turn / To live a life that's haunted / To watch your love become a curse / You are my parasite / I don't want you dead, 'cause 'Dead Doesn't Hurt," we see a side of the betrayal that causes you to resent the person that hurt you for what they did. While these are very powerful lyrics, I would also like to take a moment to address their topic. Betrayal trauma is a type of trauma that comes from a betrayal that is so deep and usually unexpected that it causes a chemical change in our brains. This trauma often comes with PTSD from the events of the betrayal and leads to depression, anxiety, irritability, trust issues, and more. Please be kind to each other; what we do to each other matters and can affect someone's biochemistry forever (thank you and welcome to my Dev Talks).
"Dead Doesn't Hurt" has a fun music video. First, it shifts between scenes of the band playing in a dark room with cascading spotlights, and solo shots of the lead singer, Chris, singing along and watching the camera as if he is a dead body on a mortuary table getting injected by a mortician. The scene then shifts to what looks to be Chris' funeral, where he lies on a slab with flowers and candles around him, and a lady wearing a black veil over her head. Over the scenes, the lady drops a lit match. The video cuts to Chris getting surrounded by flames, then the lady is shown holding an urn. The video ends with flashes between different clips before landing on one of the candles.
This is a beautiful and raw way to depict the death of a relationship that caused one of the people so much harm. As much as it is about the mourning and loss, it is also about the freedom and realization that that person is not good for them. It's both cathartic and bittersweet.
Photo Credit: Matthew Thompson
"Dead Doesn't Hurt" is a great song. It's real, it's not sugarcoated, and it talks about the realities of toxic relationships and betrayal without taking from it. The structure of the song is phenomenal, and the vocals swinging from clean to harsher is a really cool experience. This was a really cool listen, and the video is well done.
Hillhaven has once again claimed its spot among the powerhouse bands with this single. I love Hillhaven, so I am always ready to see what they have coming next! They have a great sound and visuals, so I always have a great time with their songs and work in general.
Make sure you go listen to "Dead Doesn't Hurt" and keep your eyes on Hillhaven!
Meet the Band!
Chris Kelly - Vocals
Zach Moiser - Drums
Jaime GoWell - Bass
