Up-and-coming rock outfit Haunted Device made a splash in Nashville’s growing indie-rock scene three years ago with their self-titled debut EP, and they will soon be back on the radar with their first full-length album, Enter the Wave, coming out Oct. 13. The trio—Chad McWherter, Cory Johnson and Chris Husak—has all the alternative-styled bells and whistles of bands regularly featured on Nashville’s independent radio station, Lightning 100, while keeping a sense of authenticity.
Enter the Wave is a 13-track compilation that emphasizes both a dreamy, atmospheric tone while also incorporating infectious grooves and danceable, rhythmic arrangements. The eponymous track sounds vocally like a Foo Fighters song glossed over with shoegazer distortion and bright guitar riffs, while “The Weakening” and “I’m Not Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf” feature strong hooks that harken back to the surging, garage-band vibe of early Strokes, stylistically and vocally, but without quite hitting the crushing intensity Julian Casablancas is known for.
The album’s most memorable track is “Welcome to Yum Yum City,” which, despite its peculiar title, is undeniably catchy with its beach-pop melody that builds as the song progresses. Whether it’s the thumping of the drums or its bubbly lyrics, the aforementioned track has a way of sticking in your head.
Haunted Device adds its own flair and flavor to what can sometimes be a monotonous genre, a trait that will undoubtedly take them far in Music City and beyond. Whether you hear them through the airwaves or see them on the event calendar at your favorite venue, give the band a listen, because I predict it won’t be long before everyone else catches on.
The album’s fourth track, “And Then We Turned Into Ghosts,” can now be streamed on the band’s SoundCloud page. Listen to the Haunted Device EP on Bandcamp or visit their Facebook page for updates.