The Haunt’s new single Morally Incompetent is rich with aggro and vitriol. With layers of wailing guitars cocooned by beefy kick drums and gun-shot snares, this song boasts a fantastic mix that infuses beloved pop tropes with industrial rock aesthetics. On top of this, lead singer Anastasia Grace Haunt glides across notes, delivering a dynamic and ‘haunting’ vocal performance.

I’m noticing a trend in my listening habits where the rock songs I gravitate to lately are ones of competing extremities: experimental fused with pop, bright highs juxtaposed against growling lows, loud fading into soft. Morally Incompetent achieves all of these and sets itself apart through its commitment to the bit. It’s not just loud, it’s ground-shattering. It’s not just satirical, it’s downright hilarious. There’s a moment just before the second chorus where Anastasia interrupts the song to say ‘Nick’s sick in the bathroom’. All the music drops out, the tempo halts, and we get a quiet ‘...oh fuck’ right before the song kicks back into gear again.

I also appreciate how many production ideas are being thrown into this song. There are glitchy vocal stutters, two different hi-hats competing against each other, those overblown snare drums that hit you right in the chest. I also love the bridge, and I can imagine the rapid-fire snares and energetic vocal performance creating an incredible atmosphere in a live setting. I love the variety on display here, and I hope The Haunt continues to push the envelope further in future songs.