Honey Daze releases new single "Paste"
Honey Daze’s name aptly conjures its swirling undercurrent of shoegaze and noise. But what’s missing in that evocation is the Yonkers, New York-based band’s penchant for hardcore, post-hardcore, grunge, and alternative metal. The quintet’s seamless blending of the brutal with the beautiful is on full display on "Another Habit to Break," their new EP produced by John Naclerio (Brand New, My Chemical Romance, and Senses Fail).
This is Honey Daze’s first release with vocalist Sean Dowling, the band member that had been its missing link. Dowling’s dynamically expressive vocals and viscerally emotive lyrics perfectly complements the group’s inventive and fearless musicality. Honey Daze counts as influences Glassjaw, Quicksand, Deftones, Alice in Chains, Madball, and Smashing Pumpkins, among others.
“We love the quiet/loud thing that the Pixies and Nirvana did, but I also love to use effects and noise to make the sound blurry and obscure. Then we like to hit back with a heavy riff,” says guitarist Mathew McGinnis. Adds Dowling: “It’s about the peaks and valleys. I try to incorporate that with the vocals and lyrics, knowing when to sing and when to scream.”
The single, Paste, is a post-hardcore track with jingly jangle Johnny Marr-style guitar parts, melodic bass and drums propelled verses, atonal breakdowns, a seamless blend of clean and screaming vocals, and a clever arrangement. “It’s a fun, dance-y song with an outro that sounds a little like elevator music,” McGinnis says laughing.
Right from Dowling’s first vocals, it’s clear, though, that the lyrics present an intriguing contrast to the upbeat music. “Paste” is a song that explores alienation and shame. “It’s about me feeling like I stick out like a sore thumb—that feeling of everywhere you go people are judging you,” he says. Dowling’s powerful opening lines are: Painted red / Born to feel dead / Tainted highlights / Paint the skyline
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