I'm sorry, but this is not where rock is going for me. This is truly a case of two steps forward and six steps back. Seriously, on the PR sheet it states the genre that Yen Harley specialises in as Melancholy Rock... NO! It's more Melancholy Non-Rock! See to me it's simply not rock as it's clearly a case of let's take what worked here and there and see if it fits. Sorry guys and gal, 'The Substance Of Things' just doesn't work for this reviewer!

Okay to be fair it's not that bad, and there are very few good points to be found. It's just that I can't get past the mix of rather bland vocals over such uninspiring backing. Head honcho Lukas Batteau is inspired by the likes of Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and The Smashing Pumpkins, and I actually like these bands but please cherry-picking bits from each is hardly groundbreaking is it? Ultimately this is about as close to any of them as Kerrang! is to a serious music magazine these days!

As normal daytime rock this could just about cut it, but songs' like 'Call It Love' and 'Why She Runs' are not rock... Melancholy - tick! Rock - no tick!

Perhaps the production on 'The Substance Of Things' is what's to blame for my strange lack of interest? But it just leaves me wanting more, and it never fulfils its promise! Shame as I was looking for so much more but ultimately Yen Harley left with a bit of a damp squib of an album.

http://www.yenharley.net/

http://www.myspace.com/yenharley