Royal Hearts are a South-Florida (Fort Lauderdale) Post-Hardcore band who are looking to stand out amongst the over-produced and bland rock bands that are ever-present in the current musical landscape. Composed of lead vocalist Ryan Camuto, drummer and backing vocalist Michael Summers, guitarist Luis Vegas, and bassist Nelson Tran, the band positioned themselves to take the world by storm with their debut double single. These two tracks are heavy and impactful, with insanely good clean singing and varied instrumentation but the one thing holding it back was the inadequate production. For instance, the track “Second Chances” is good in its own rite but sounds like the band are playing to you from down the hall.
Do the band rectify this problem while still retaining the sound that makes them so interesting on their new EP, “Within Reach?” The answer is a resounding yes. The production is much cleaner and more crisp, allowing the listener to appreciate the EP the way it was intended to be. With that out of the way, how do the other elements stack up? Firstly, the vocals are one of the focal points of this release and for good reason. Both the screams and clean singing are fantastic and the interplay between the two is executed in a really slick and natural-sounding manner.
The screams are mostly relegated to a growled mid-range but Camuto dips into a more guttural vocal delivery on occasion that’s a treat for those who are into heavier styles of music. The clean vocals give off a lot of Silverstein vibes and they uplift every track on this EP to new heights. The chorus (and all of the clean vocals, to be honest) on “It Gets Me So” is so enticing and emotive that it could rival any similar hooks from well-established post-hardcore bands. This track is an easy standout amongst a pool of solid songs.
The instrumentation is a little more on the melodic side to start the EP off, with both “Fairweather” and “It Gets Me So” containing fuzzy guitars and staccato chugging. “It Gets Me So” is a fair bit more laid back than the other tracks but it serves as a break between heavier songs and as a result is made all the more memorable. All in all, these tracks have more elements of punk than metal or hardcore. That’s not to say that there aren’t heavier moments, such as the crunchy and aggressive breakdown at the end of “Fairweather” but they pale in comparison to the absolutely devastating one-two-punch of “Loving to Leaving” and “Death of Me”.
“Loving to Leaving” starts off with a blistering, grooving riff by Vegas that is consistent throughout the track and is incredibly hard-hitting. This track takes a lot of cues from Metalcore and Hardcore, employing hoarse yells and chugging, downtuned breakdowns. One of the heaviest songs on the EP, there is little room to breathe for the listener..but in the best way possible. The only reprieve is yet another stunner of a chorus that wears its Silverstein influence on its sleeve but with its own unique flavor.
“Death of Me” also starts with a monster of a guitar riff quickly cut off by a quick and purposeful drum intro. Summers plays in the pocket and creates a tangible sense of groove before the monstrous guitar riff appears again and the quick drum hits are replaced by clicky double-bass pedals. The drums on this track are super apparent and consistent, providing slick fills and pulling the rest of the song behind it. Speaking of groove, this entire song is chock-full of sections that will have you physically unable to resist moving your head. Again, the interplay between clean and screamed vocals are used to full effect but the unclean vocals shine particularly bright on this track. There’s so much variety to be found in terms of vocal techniques. Camuto runs the gamut of high screams, nasally yells, mid-range growls, and lower-range screams.
The final track on the EP “Wasting my Time,” is a culmination of everything found on the previous songs. A strong chorus, varied unclean vocal work, smart and creative drum fills, and spicy guitar noodling are all core elements of this song. However, the standout moment for me was the pummelling and relentlessly heavy breakdown. The only issue I had with this EP was that the breakdowns didn’t have much variety and were fairly one-note aside from the one found on “Wasting my Time”, which included some instrumental switch-ups and urgent panic chords.
In conclusion, the band have crafted a short-but-sweet slice of post-hardcore that fits in extremely well with its contemporaries but shines in the way of vocal delivery, deliciously catchy guitar riffs, and superb drum fills. The production issues from their previous release have been put to rest and the band are all the better for it. Give this band time, and I have no doubt that they’ll grow to become a household name with their infectious and hard-hitting brand of post-hardcore. Make sure to hear the EP for yourself..this is a release you won’t want to miss when considering your favorite tracks of the year.
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