Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Recluse
Summer Showers

Heart In Hand (2009) Michael

The Recluse – Summer Showers cover artwork
The Recluse – Summer Showers — Heart In Hand, 2009

Summer Showers is my first exposure to Alabama group The Recluse. I swore I heard their name before, in fact I think I saw them once... maybe not. I can't quite place where/why/how I know them.

"Pre-Death Realizations" is the leading cut and it is an odd song as it walks the line between equal parts melodic hardcore and metallic hardcore. Strangely enough, it works. "Dead," "Post-Death Realizations," and the title-track continue this fusion of fast, melodic hardcore with a harder edge thanks to the occasional chugging riffs and the throaty vocal delivery. Occasionally I heard a bit of two that reminds me of American Nightmare, though not quite as aggressive.

The Recluse definitely has a sound I enjoy; yet there is still something that leaves me not quite sold on them. Keep tabs on them; they have potential with their next release.

6.5 / 10Michael • July 29, 2009

The Recluse – Summer Showers cover artwork
The Recluse – Summer Showers — Heart In Hand, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

Six Going on Seven

Human Tears
Spartan Records (2026)

Late 90s post hardcore and emo feels impossible to recreate now. That’s not because the sound itself is gone, but because the tension behind it was so specific to that era. Six Going on Seven’s Human Tears, their first full length in roughly twenty-four years, captures that feeling perfectly. Having a wonderful history by having done a split with Hot … Read more

The Bug Club

Every Single Muscle
Sub Pop (2026)

  I got kind of obsessed with reviewing this record after I heard the first single “Watching The Omnibus” which they released digitally earlier this year. I could probably just write a whole thing about how hard it was to get an advance download of it for review, but I try to keep my reviews positive so I will steer clear … Read more

The Cascadian Divide

To the Sky
Independent (2026)

The Cascadian Divide is a Washington state based melodic skate punk band that formed during the infamous COVID lockdown. Although it started as an experiment, it soon became a passion project for the band members. The band has seen its share of line up changes over the years, but the commitment to maintaining the sound and integrity of the band … Read more