Album Review: “hellbent//heavensent” by Woolbright
By Brittany Davis
Davie, Florida’s very own Woolbright are back, giving us bangers with their sophomore full length album, hellbent//heavansent. Offering us the classic sound we all know and love as well as showing us a new side to their sound.
Woolbright’s recording process consists of Candice Maritato on vocals and guitar, Josue Vargas on guitar and drums, and John Peloso on bass. They often typically have a softer bedroom indie/alternative vibe, but they are leaning heavily into alternative and math rock aesthetics with this latest release, while still keeping their original elements. This new era for Woolbright sonically, has been my personal favorites to listen to and watch live. Candice’s vocals are electric and earwormingly fantastic almost like she’s using her own harmonies as instruments themselves at times. Their first song, Bigger Than This, is an anthem of knowing your self-worth and understanding that you need more than you are receiving at the time. With lyrics like, “I always had an excuse for why I stayed” and “So stronger than this and I know I am more.” The instruments have an aggressive undertone with how fast and steady they are being played almost as if an internal battle has been played out for sometime until the emotions finally come out.
The first single Woolbright released off the project was I Don’t Owe You which is the perfect transition song from Bigger Than This feeling like a sister anthem. This song is telling someone off in the most kind, yet firm way possible to get your point across loud and clear with, “When you finally come around it’s like nothing even happened.” This song is calling out everything wrong with this person who believes your time, energy, and world revolves around them because, “it’s not like I don’t have shit to do, but be here when you call.” “Lacking vulnerability to get an inch closer to me, maybe it’s a lack of confidence baby. No, I don't owe you a goddamn thing.” This song is the way to cut off a vicious cycle of feeling unwanted and unwelcomed to someone’s absent energy. Just You & Me is the math rock style with more technical guitar riffs, loud drum pounds, and steady basslines. This song shows off Candice’s vocal range with Woolbright’s classic style with the high note melodies and softer lower tones.
Attention goes back to original Woolbright roots with soft vocals, acoustic guitar, and soft electric guitar, as well as exploring new sides to them with a Melodica used in some parts. Woolbright are no strangers to speaking about the topic of self-awareness and self-reflection with lines in the song stating, “Why do I keep my expectations so high,” “I haven’t been thinking clearly,” and “I’m trying. I've been really really really trying.”
Nothing To Say starts out slower with the gradual build of loud instruments almost like they are screaming at you with vocal harmonies in the background. This song is about the back-and-forth battle of wanting to talk it out, but also feeling like it’s not worth it either.
Real starts out heavy out of the gates, sounding like a 90s punk rock song with heavy bass tones, whiny guitar strums, and drum beats with heart wrenching lyrics, “You want to praise me in front of company, then silently berate me. You’ll hug and kiss me for all to see then isolate me privately,” and “I tried my best to get away from you, you can’t make me stay. You’ll never make me stay.” Real is a punch in the stomach with the realization this isn’t good for you and it’s time to go our separate ways because staying is only hurting yourself.
Hellbent feels like a song of being overlooked for how you’re truly feeling and looking to those around you. Everyone assumes you’re doing okay, but you’re showing some signs you’re really not; however, people perceive you one particular way, so they look at you that way, not seeing the broken side of you. “I’m hoping you see clearly of course you believed that I am fine, I’m cool, collected, laid back why can’t you see I lied a hundred times through broken teeth I’m hellbent.” Not Everything You Want opens with a soft guitar and isolated vocals behind it leading into steady drum snaps and faint basslines, eventually building to stronger louder plays. This song is the reality of being told that you aren’t what someone wants. It’s so heartbreaking to hear those words come from someone you hold dear. It’s remarkable to hear the lines, “I bear nothing against you.” It is the acceptance of nothing you can do about it and now it’s time to move on and be the bigger person.
Push sonically is the sister song to Not Everything You Want, but with more vocal vibrations and harmonies. The striking lines, ”I’m the house of glass you can break” is such a sad line because nobody should feel like their spirit is broken. Wrapping up the album is the track Heavensent which opens with the band playing around with chords while reflecting on the phrase, “blood is thicker than water” where they lead into speaking on the bonds you create with others; as well as praising the listeners as they are a great person and they have support. Around the three minute mark, the song opens back up with the piercing sound of vocals followed by soft chords and an eerie background of soft static that almost feels empty. As a whole, hellbent//heavensent is so incredibly different, but somehow familiar to who Woolbright are at their core. This album is very much a reflection of how we treat ourselves, others, and how we let others treat us, no matter the relationships we have with them. Remembering the person you are at your core is the only way to make it through the hard times and that’s a massive loving message Woolbright always has shine through their music.
For Fans of: Pool Kids, Death Cab for Cutie, Tiger’s Jaw, Snail Mail, and Sweet Pill.
