These Hearts continues to cement their place as one of the hardest working new bands both on the road and in the studio. A little over a year after their July 2011 debut Forever Ended Yesterday, the self-proclaimed “popcore” quintet is back with their Elephant in the Room EP.

 

The creative blend of hardcore and metal twisted with some pop elements that the band concocted for their debut album is refined on the EP’s first track, “The Inconvenience.” The song mourns a life set to self-destruct, building around vocalist Ryan Saunder’s aggressive screams asking “how does it feel to play God for a day?” The clean vocals on the chorus are clear-cut and piercing.

 

A remade version of the band’s song “Denial Isn’t Just a River in Egypt” is featured next. This is the version used for the band’s recent music video, and although it does not stray too far from the version on Forever Ended Yesterday, the update improves on an already strong track. The song also draws out the EP’s title: “don’t speak too soon, there’s an elephant in the room,” the chorus warns.

 

The last three tracks on the EP are acoustic, but by no means weaker. These Hearts deftly demonstrates that sometimes the hardest bands can create the most effective soft tracks. The acoustic version of “Denial Isn’t Just a River in Egypt” draws the attention to the vocals and thus the core of the lyrics.

 

“Live to the Point of Tears” is another previous song that gets the acoustic treatment. The song is a lament in the wake of a loved one’s death, and the lyrics benefit greatly from the slower, stripped down format. The final selection is an original acoustic track, “His Angel Back.” A rich, raw acoustic guitar backs a song that narrates the journey of a friend walking with someone suffering from cancer, honestly asking the question “what do you say when ‘it’s going to be OK’ is a lie?” The song is haunting without being emotionally overbearing, and it addresses a hard subject gently and gracefully.

 

This EP is a strong example of the way These Hearts is growing as they continue to pioneer the mostly untread ground of Christian hardcore. The evidence of their work ethic and dedication to bringing solid rock backed with truth is clear on each track. The hard tracks draw on their strong rock roots while the more introspective acoustic tracks are refreshingly heartfelt. This EP is well worth picking up for anyone who wants to hear a fresh voice on the field of rock and hardcore.