I know Halloween is over, but for those of us who enjoy a little spooky fun, ghostly tales and songs are entirely appropriate amid the mists and rains of November. On my headphones today are How We Feel, a powerful rock duo featuring vocalist Chris Bianchi (Forever In Terror) and drummer Brian Lamtman. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, the pair released their debut album, Ready for War, in 2025.
Ready for War proved to be an impressive debut, combining alternative rock melodies with post-hardcore influences. The album is all about standing up to the crap that life throws at you, finding your strength and coming out with both fists raised! I understand the duo have known each other for some time, although the band itself only came together in 2024. Getting such an accomplished debut album out into the world within a year of forming certainly deserves an acknowledgement from me.
My Review
“Graveyard Disco”
Released in October 2026 and now available across streaming platforms, this is a track that immediately caught my attention. Ooh, I liked this! It’s mostly in my musical lane, and dancing with zombies while spinning around in the darkness sounds like a pretty good groove to be in.
Hard-edged rock blends with electronic elements and melody. Throw them all into the blender and this is what comes out! There’s an energy here that reaches towards late-night rock radio, with the vocals switching between melodic delivery and a more aggressive growl. It’s an enjoyable combination, and the title track certainly delivers on its promise.
I also listened to:
“Devil Inside”
“Everything around me is breaking” is how this one opens, before slipping into a heavy drum sound that provides plenty of edgy energy. Musically, I’m reminded of those big nineties hard rock sounds, but there’s more going on here than a straightforward trip down memory lane. At 2:25, the bell tolls and the track changes direction, moving into a more pronounced post-hardcore territory. I particularly liked the layered vocals and the sheer size of the sound. There’s plenty of attitude here!
“Dangerous”
This is a very interesting track, and Chris Bianchi delivers what I thought were his strongest vocals of the songs I explored. I was impressed by the wall of sound that gradually builds, the little backing-vocal flourishes and the commercial grooves that make this such an accessible number.
There is a lot going on, but it never loses its sense of melody. In fact, there was plenty here that would have me returning for another listen, and this actually became my favourite of the tracks I sampled. Really good!
“Flatline”
Here we enter rather different territory. This is something of an electro-metal experience, with an urban edge and a montage of darker musical ideas. It’s cinematic enough to transport me into one of those driving movies where the characters head towards the end of the world, with no intention of turning back!
There’s plenty of darkness, but also enough lighter touches to provide texture and contrast. The changes in pitch and rhythm keep the listener engaged, making this an interesting addition to the collection.
Summary
How We Feel have certainly given me plenty to explore here. There’s a satisfying mixture of hard rock, alternative influences, post-hardcore aggression and electronic experimentation, all held together by a strong sense of melody.
What I particularly enjoyed was the variety. “Graveyard Disco” has the immediate appeal, “Devil Inside” brings the heavier influences to the forefront, “Dangerous” delivers the most accessible melodic moments, while “Flatline” takes us somewhere altogether darker and more cinematic.
There’s an interesting musical identity developing here, and the combination of Bianchi’s vocal versatility and Lamtman’s driving percussion gives the project plenty of character.
Halloween might be behind us, but How We Feel are quite happy to keep the darkness alive. And judging by these tracks, I wouldn’t mind joining them for another spin around the graveyard!
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Stream music from How We Feel here.
By Stevie Ritson
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