Hailing from California, Heart to Heart has proved you don’t need anything fancy to create great music. With their 2010 EP Impressions being the thing that helped start Heart to Heart forged their own path, the band has done nothing less than work their tail off. Having the vocal and instrumental abilities all jam packed into one sweet album, Heart to Heart is one of few bands that can keep it real with every album they produce. Flying under the radar for the most part, Heart to Heart is a band I believe needs to be brought to the limelight. With touring, producing music, and pumping out a rocking debut LP leading them up to the release of their sophomore LP, Dulce (2014). Heart to Heart touches on subjects mostly left unturned, creating a sense of belonging for those who know the feelings.

Kicking off the album with track 1 out of 10 (“A.M.F”)  the song begins with an instrumental intro that builds up straight into gritty vocals. The tight drumming complements the pure emotion that pours out of the speakers as the obvious theme of abandonment becomes well known with the lyrics. “I failed to see the man you claimed to be/ with or without you our family tree still grows” sets a tone for the album all while taking the basics of music and molding them into something else,of course with Heart to Hearts own signature.  As the next track (“Mentirosa”) comes to play, a self-loathing anthem is born. Having lyrics that are on the same page as the rest of the album, the rhythm section is the notable act for this song. The sonorous tempo laid with the bass and what could only be floor toms builds the form of the song.  Vocalist Nick Zoppo’s stentorian range brings texture to the lyrics allowing a vivid picture to be paint in the listeners head. Adding a darker and heavier element to the album few tracks mention suicide, self-harm, and destructive behaviors.(“Daydream” and “Backdraft”) creating a dynamic level that takes the listener on a journey of self-destruction.

Track “Daydream” starts off with heavy emphasis on the guitar as the same repetitive drum beat is played. Building off the instrumental aspects of the song, the lyrics “the only one who weeps over a tombstone that reads / Out of his misery/ You did this to me/ You’ll see/You’ll be sorry” take the emotion of the song and forces it to the limelight. With obvious emotional distress that is portrayed with the talk of killing oneself overpowering most of the song, this becomes an emotional experience.  Though taking it back to softer grounds a few tracks (“Firefly” and “Black Widow”) counteract the heaviness, though continue to keep the same emotional tone. The sotto voice that starts in track “Firefly” allows the listener to take a breather from the deep and stirring experience with previous tracks. The light guitars accompanied by darker undertones make this the one song that can be played at anything of the day.

At the end of the album, the drumming throughout the record is something that keeps you hooked, along with the occasional in sync of the rest of the band. Each and every aspect of the record tends to run in its own direction; for the most part it works well and creates a different sound, but, in certain aspects it’s not the best and given their previous work you know they could have done better. Though, in the end it’s the life experiences brought to the foreground keep you listening to the end; the emotion, the message, and the way it was delivered are something that you should take a look into, given you might need to be in a certain mindset the record is something to note.