Album Of The Week: Heat’s Overnight

What makes music “cool”? Is it a catchy chorus? Is it a badass guitar riff? Maybe it’s the swagger. Maybe it’s one of these factors or maybe it’s none of them; there’s no measuring stick when it comes to the “coolness” of an artist’s or band’s sound. One thing that can make music “cool” is brilliance with little effort. Montreal post-punk trio Heat have that and a whole lot more with their album Overnight that’s going to be released on January 20 via Topshelf Records. The album has a consistently sonic tone while Susil Sharma’s laid-back vocal delivery strikes a chord. Heat makes the senses travel through time to post-punk’s heyday in the late ‘70s while keeping things original.

Sharma is backed on Overnight by the powerful rhythms supplied by Matthew Fiorentino on synth and bassist Raphael Bussieres. His guitar skills meld perfectly with the raw and dark vibes due to his knack for spine-tingling progressions. Each track on the album offers something different; some are long-ranged while others are straight to the point. A few tracks are catchy and there are ones that will take your mind on a trip. Sharma, Fiorentino and Bussieres bring a lot of variety to the table, and it makes for a wonderful listening experience.

The year is still in its infancy, but what can fans expect from 2017’s music? There are a few releases that’ll be met with a boatload of anticipation, and there will be a couple of big tours during the summer. There’s bound to be a band that sneaks up on people and obtains success, too. Will Heat be one of those bands? There’s no way to tell for sure, but let’s check out my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week and make a few predictions.

With a drum machine making its presence felt, “Lush” has a lot of guitar technique going along with a steady groove. It’s a track that can either make people dance or just have them sit back and relax. “Cold Hard Morning Light” is the catchiest song on the album and it also rocks the hardest. The chorus will stick in your head and Sharma croons in stunning fashion. Another track that touches upon a similar groove is “Long Time Coming,” and there’s a stellar guitar solo right in the middle.

Starting in February, Heat embark on a tour of Canada and the United States starting with a hometown show at the Bar Le Ritz PDB on February 2. For us in New England, the only show Heat will play in the region will be at Bar in New Haven, Connecticut, on March 8. Knowing Bar the way I do, the show will probably be free so if you’re willing to make the trip, you won’t be hassled at the door. Whether they roll through your neighborhood music venue or not, grab a copy of Heat’s full-length album Overnight when it comes out in a couple of weeks. It’s a ripper of a record that you’ll want to blast through your speakers.

Stream “Lush” via Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/topshelfrecords/heat-lush; Heat’s Website: heat-band.com