After an album like “Things We Carry” (2006) it was hard for Boston-based straight edgers Have Heart not to become on of the genre’s leading bands. No-compromise and in your face powerful lyrics combined with music that throws you right in the pit – the cocktail reminds of Earth Crisis and the powerful kick back to life they gave the scene in the early 90’s. “Songs To Scream At The Sun”, though, is a conceptual album where the key word is “growing up”. Musically things are taking a post-hardcore turn towards more alternative directions, without losing any of the power of the band’s previous work. This time around the melodies aren’t just some torn pieces of music scattered across the album, but a vital ingredient of the music that is present all the time, driving the tracks and making full-blood songs out of them, also sticking them in your memory. From the groove bombardment of “Bostons”, through the surprise of the melodic instrumental “Reflections”, the album has a lot to offer. Meanwhile the tracks blend into each other, making it one whole 21-minute song (yes, not the longest album ever, too)… with the whole thing put in a conceptual frame, as the first and last song are named respectively “The Same Son” and “The Same Sun”. The lyrics themselves also touch the topic of growing up. Instead of me interpreting stuff, here’s what vocalist Patrick Flynn has to say: “Songs To Scream At The Sun is the coming of age story. It's about the growing process of a young kid shaking the chains of selfishness, but it's everything about what you lose and gain in that process of growing up”. There is also way less finger pointing on the “I’m straight edge and you ought to be too” frontline. Have Heart have wised up and have created a full-blood album that absolutely does have the chance of becoming the year’s best hardcore one. A conceptual album, solid music, meaningful lyrics – “Songs To Scream At The Sun” is built from reasons for you to give it a try.