REVIEW: Grace Hayhurst – ‘The World Is Dying’
Ever since she first emerged, Grace Hayhurst has been a force twisting the prog-rock’s DNA into new, unpredictable shapes. Her debut album ‘The World Is Dying’ is an epic odyssey: grand, uncompromising, and at times downright confrontational.
Right from the opening moments, Hayhurst sets the tone with an atmospheric prologue that seamlessly bleeds into the album’s namesake. The title-track wastes no time showcasing her knack for marrying infectious hooks with sprawling, genre-bending arrangements. Here, melody gets the front seat, but there’s plenty of eccentricity lurking beneath, a kind of beautiful unease that keeps you guessing where she’ll head next.
Hayhurst remains fearless in her experimentation. String sections collide with towering riffs, drum solos spiral into unexpected places, and even a French horn makes a cameo. Rather than sticking to one lane, she opts to explore every scenic detour she can find. Some passages feel almost orchestral, others dissolve into raw, guttural power.
Tracks like ‘And It’s Our Fault’ flex her heavy side, packing a chorus that punches through the haze with ferocity. In contrast, ‘Us Vs Them’ leans more into classic prog sensibilities, twisting and turning through intricate guitar lines and subtle shifts that feel strangely comforting even amid the chaos.
While ‘Our Forest, The Earth’ might be the album’s emotional apex. The chorus soars with desperation, and there’s a primal intensity coursing through the track. Meanwhile, ‘Take Off’ dials up the rhythmic playfulness, pushing the listener into unexpected grooves and left-field transitions.
But it’s ‘Revolution’ that truly defines the album’s spirit. Clocking in at over 12 minutes, this track feels like a complete universe of its own, one filled with seismic shifts, tender interludes, and explosive crescendos. It’s the kind of song that demands multiple listens, each pass revealing another hidden layer, another twist in the labyrinth. Exhausting? Maybe. Worth every second? Absolutely.
As the record winds down, Hayhurst doesn’t let up. The haunting repetition in ‘Armistice’ builds a creeping tension, while ‘Absent Futures’ provides a gentle, almost meditative exhale to close out the journey.
‘The World Is Dying’ is an album that asks you to lean in, get lost, and sit with discomfort and beauty side by side. For those willing to take the plunge, Grace Hayhurst has crafted a debut that’s as daring as it is rewarding, a fierce testament to her vision and a bold promise of what’s still to come.