MUSIC REVIEW: JAGER HENRY – Heart Of Thorns [EP]

Label: Bornsad

Release Date: August 23, 2024

Rating: 88%

Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Sometimes its better to wait and read any background on an artist that you aren’t familiar with until you listen through whatever music is in front of you.  I know I am in the minority, but I have never been a huge Led Zeppelin fan.  Additionally, while I respect everything Jason Bonham has been a part of (especially Steel Dragon), it doesn’t typically land in my regular listening rotation in the office.  Receivng music from the latest Bonham to crank music put an unfair skew in my brain before I heard a note.  Disc opener “Preface” leads quickly into the title track with sound that grows over 29 seconds.  “Heart Of Thorns” is a cool track that allows Jager to show off some vocal chops as well as a cool range that ebbs and flows as the song works between verse and chorus, even when Lil Lotus puts his vocal into the mix.  The music is full of cool riffs, pings, and squeals that help carry the track underneath the vocal storm that swirls at times.  “Breaking Down” is the catchiest track on the collection and the break downs built in to the musical DNA of the track helps drive the track and accentuate the vocals, which give Jager a chance to push himself with singing that shifts to growls and back to singing.  The song ends as strong as it beings and keeps you listening to see what is next.  “Closer To Heaven” featuring Noah Thomas builds on the rest of the tracks, but stands out a bit thanks to the chugging riffs that lead the track from the opening and into the chorus.  This is the poppiest of the tracks, and like many of the other tracks, gives us different vocal sounds that add depth.

“Deja Vu” is a slight deviation sonically as far as the vocals are concerned.  The track is similar to the opener (and others on the EP) without sounding overdone or repetitive.  The layered vocal buried in the chorus add punch to the track without taking away from the lead vocal or the overal sound of the song.  This one is catchy and I find myself coming back to it with each listen.  “Lighthouse” is another song that fits well within the structure of the collection and doesn’t deviate much soniucally, but again allows us to dig into Jager’s a little more as he drops different textures betwee nthe verse, prechorus, and chorus moving from one to the next easily.  “Bite Down” comes in as the shortest of the track, but timing is the only way this song is less than the others.  The music is cool, but the vocals stand out to me on this one.  There is something more emotive in the delivery of the singing and screaming that swirl perfectly in the song and emphasize the overall vibe of the track.  Disc closer “Mortal Sacrifice” wraps up the package with a song that at dials back at times and others seems more aggressive than the others.  The ebb and flow of the tempo and delivery both vocally and musically leave you wanting more as the EP ends, but isn’t that what every artist strives for?  Leave your preconceived notions at the door… this ain’t your parents (or grandparent) Bonham, but this is damn good modern rock.

Tracklisting: Preface – Heart Of Thorns – Deja Vu – Breaking Down – Lighthouse – Closer To Heaven – Bite Down – Mortal Sacrifice

JAGER HENRY LINKS:

FACEBOOK

X – TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

HEART OF THORNS – ITUNES

Category: CD Reviews