The Brooklyn-based duo Halfway Up a Jagged Hill announced their self-titled album, HUAJH, which will be released on September 10 by Vinegar Hill Sound Records. The announcement coincides with the release of their new single, “Silver Sword,” a track that encapsulates the band’s emo-infused distortion, raw lyricism, and post-rock sound.
“Silver Sword” serves as a preview of HUAJH, with topics of self-harm and healing. The song has three distinct themes of suffering, healing, and empowerment, which are mirrored in the arc of personal growth of the album.
The track’s fantasy-inspired imagery, a silver sword, which serves as a metaphor for resilience and healing. The song’s haunting yet uplifting progression reflects the band’s ability to balance dark themes of pain with hope, a theme that permeates HUAJH at its core.
Halfway Up a Jagged Hill is the brainchild of longtime duo and childhood friends Devin Gilbert (vocals, guitar) and Jeb Polstein (drums), whose musical journey began in middle school jazz band. Their music merges elements of emo, post-hardcore, and experimental rock, creating their own niché sound that is both challenging and emotional. Over the years, they’ve explored a variety of genres, from post-hardcore (Primate House) to shoegaze (Chris Sunshine) and free jazz/doom math, which is a combo of free jazz, doom metal, and math rock (Polstein’s Macaw). Their collaboration on HUAJH clearly shows a return to their heavier roots, fueled by a shared hunger to push boundaries when it comes to themes of mental health and healing.
Gilbert, who also works as a mental health clinician, instills the album with deeply personal themes of pain and recovery. The album is the result of a maximalist sound crafted from a minimalist setup. Gilbert’s guitar delivers weighty, distorted chugs, while Polstein’s drums both anchor and elevate the music with intricate rhythms and explosive crescendos. “Sliver Sword” feels like the pain is growing, but once the song gets to the end, the sound gets softer, wrapping the listener in the depths of resolution and understanding of the pain.
“Silver Sword” is the embodiment of what it feels like when pain is swallowing you whole, but you’re ready to break free and move forward. It pulls you into the struggle, but slowly uproots you from the pain. This song is beautifully crafted and composed, while keeping the post-rock sound original and hardcore.
HUAJH defies easy categorization, drawing influences from Pile, Liturgy, Envy, and The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, yet carving out a sound that is entirely its own. The album’s tracks, including the opener “Obscure Sorrows” and the despair-laden “Liar,” lay out the duo’s ability to craft gnarled riffs, contemplative lyrics, and dynamic instrumentation into a cohesive, immersive experience.
The album’s artwork, rendered by visual artist Nick Corbo, features a witch hut, a structure the band encountered during a nighttime walk in the woods. The eerie, evocative imagery reflects the album’s themes of mystery, darkness, and regeneration.
Fans can now pre-order HUAJH and stream “Silver Sword” across all major platforms.
For updates on upcoming gigs and tour dates, follow Halfway Up a Jagged Hill on Instagram @halfwayupajaggedhill.
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