Take cover, grunge returnists and plaid-wearers – Twelve Days in June is ready to punch you right in the gut with ‘Hiraeth,’ their new release. This 13-track monster is a brainchild of the skilled Ben Hirshfield who worked for bands like Against Me! and The Story So Far, and is an outright homage to the years of heady rock where angst was at its most and power chords were what everyone sang along to.
Dave Hulegaard, the vocalist, does not hide his influences. “Hiraeth” is the courtyard where The Smashing Pumpkins, The Foo Fighters and Swervedriver meet in an action fashion, with denim being unimpressive. Not that it’s a diluted copy. It’s an unabashed tribute to the past, but this time it is all about Hulegaard’s life, his emotions, and the much-needed moments.
“… Back in the mid-90s when I began writing my first songs,” Hulegaard reflects, “it felt like a full-on sonic battle against those who were pushing alternative rock aside. Many of my favourite bands were either breaking up or evolving into something I couldn’t connect with. As the year 2000 approached, I wasn’t ready to bid farewell to that sound – I WAS READY FOR TWELVE DAYS IN JUNE TO KEEP IT ALIVE. That fire still burns bright.”
And burn it does. “Hiraeth” is a sonic juggernaut, a relentless barrage of distorted guitars courtesy of Hulegaard and Cory Clark, a rhythm section that hits like a piledriver thanks to John Thomasson’s throbbing bass lines and Adam Soucy’s pulverizing drums. The production by Hirschfield is pure magic – tight, punchy, and dripping with enough vintage grit to satisfy even the most discerning grunge aficionado.
The introductory track of the album is ‘Numb’ a hard-hitting song that takes one to the end of hopelessness. Hulegaard’s vocal delivery is passionate as he explains the internal void after the end of a romantic relationship. The sentiments expressed are filled with hatred and scorn, however, there is triumph in sadness when he accepts that it is not worth the pain. It closes with ‘Blush’, a track that is thematically more reflective and discusses the ideas of wretchedness and nostalgia. Hulegaard recounts the errors he has committed and the chances he has lost. There is an ache for what was and terror of what is to come. The phrase is a chilling yet entrancing repetition — “You’re turning red”, that is perfectly in place as the last track of the album.
Hiraeth is not only an emotion of longing. Hulegaard is influenced by more severe subjects. These include …, loneliness, death etc. All of them are here on the hospital bed waiting to be dissected using all the skills and instruments at hand. These aren’t the songs that lift your mood; they are the ones that dissect the black parts of existence. Imagine it as a long overdue session with a shrink, along with some really heavy music.
“Hiraeth” is not the kind of album one can use to go gently into that good night. It’s blaring, it’s aggressive and it pulls no punches. But for those who are looking for the sensitive crude aspect that only old-school grunge albums have, this album is perfect for you. So, raise the sound up to the high levels, wear your most torn jeans and join Twelve Days in June for an excursion through the deepest recesses of your psyche. You may come out feeling a bit emotionally purged and slightly more in touch with the innate rage that resides in every one of us.