High Fade : Twice As Nice

Jason Landry, contributor
 

Scotland’s High Fade just dropped their latest release Twice As Nice. First-time listeners are in for a real treat, as it’s nearly impossible to figure out which end of the genre spectrum they belong to—are they a hard rock band, a jam band, or what about funk powerhouse? They’re clearly a little bit of all of that, and if you get to see them live, you’ll agree that they’re a hybrid all their own.

 

High Fade came out swinging in 2018 playing gigs throughout Scotland and the UK before traveling over the pond to the U.S. where they wowed crowds with songs like “Burnt Toast & Coffee”, “The Jam”, as well as their 2024 full-length release Life’s Too Fast. This three-person wrecking crew made up of Harry Valentino—Guitar/Vocals, Oliver Sentance on Bass, and newcomer Heath Campbell on Drums is out to convert casual listeners to mega-fans. Brace yourself for some high-octane, pedal-to-the-metal energy—every single track, every single night.

 

Twice As Nice opens with the track, “Swamp” which has the speed and intensity of a great hardcore rock song, especially with the guitar riffs and driving drums, but what gives it the funkiest bottom end is the slick bass groove that all good jams possess. Just when you think the song is about to end, it ramps back up with a completely different rhythm and dark lyrics that belt out, What are you willing to die for? What are you willing to lose? Valentino’s vocals are strikingly reminiscent of Zakk Wylde's when he covers Black Sabbath tunes. You may even get a feeling that Zakk just jumped into the vocal booth to sing a few bars with the lads for a quick second.

 

“The Fly” is a ripping instrumental with a lightning fast picking attack and beat with an accompanying trumpet that goes note for note with Valentino’s guitar lines. “War” brings their signature funk styling to the fore front of their own anti-war anthem.

 

They take it down a bit with “Retro Inferno” before breaking into “Sick Of Myself”. Both of these specific tracks feel like Valentino is hauntingly embodying the spirit and vocal range of Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots.

 

The track “Time For A Cig(Twice As Nice)” is a general warning about a girl that looks right on the outside, but one that you don’t want to turn your back on,…she wanna drink…she loves to party…she’s twice as nice…yeah, she’s cold as ice.

 

Oliver lays down the funkiest bass line in “Room 634” which rolls right into “Black and Blue”, a head bobbing funktastic track before they close out the album with the rockin’ banger “Dollar For The Bus”. 

 

Check their website for tour dates near you, and also check out their Guest Playlist Series spot, right here on Soundwaves to see the songs that helped to inspire their career.