What the reviewers say: Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy
Young Fathers have returned to the fold with their fourth studio album Heavy Heavy, an ecstatic burst of energy that packs more ideas into a brief 30 minutes than most bands manage across a double album.
We loved it unequivocally, writing in our five-star review, ‘The future of our country may be gloomy, a fact that proves inescapable on swaggering tracks such as "I Saw", but they’re not the focus. Standing proudly at the centre of this infectious, irresistible album are snapshots of elation, the comfort of friends, lovers and family buffering the world’s turbulence. So go on, shrug off life’s enervating force and have a dance.’
So, five stars from us, but what did everyone else think? Here’s our digest of what some of the biggest music review outlets thought of Heavy Heavy.
The Guardian
Rating 4/5
‘Over 10 tracks, Heavy Heavy retains the band’s urgent energy – the yelps and driving drums of 'I Saw' and sub-bass breakbeats of 'Shoot Me Down' – but that vitality works in service to an overall, infectious optimism.’
(Words by Ammar Kalia)
Read the Guardian’s full review here
NME
Rating 5/5
‘Heavy Heavy is a passionate, soulful and often mesmerising work that will stick around long past the first listen. Succinct and underpinned by a catchy melodic structure, it continues Young Fathers’ peerless run of singular albums and further cements them as one of the more unique acts to exist today. ‘
(Words by Dhruva Balram)
Clash
Rating 8/10
‘Heavy Heavy sees them fully marry their two sides; is this a very fun album from a very serious band, or a very serious album from a very fun band? Why not both? Young Fathers can have it both ways. Heavy Heavy is a stubborn challenge to have fun to despite everything around us; a resolute dance through gritted teeth, an acknowledgement that while the world crumbles, we can stand firm, still love, still dance, still sweat, and still be good to each other.’
(Words by David Weaver)
DIY
Rating 5/5
‘What remains evident about this group is the preservation of themselves as an entity - it’s very difficult to pinpoint which member is providing the vocal at any one time which feels like a deliberate ploy to celebrate their bond. Heavy Heavy finds Young Fathers fired up in each other’s company again venturing deeper into a world only they can occupy. Unique, raw and totally joyous.’
(Words by Sean Kerwick)
The Quietus
No rating provided
‘On Heavy Heavy, Young Fathers set out to deliberately overwhelm. The Scottish trio’s last album, 2018’s Cocoa Sugar, was an insular project that carried emotional heft – "In My View" and "Lord" in particular – but never felt like it left the room. By contrast, Heavy Heavy pushes the physical intensity of their early work to a fervent extreme. Somehow, four albums in, they’ve managed to create something more massive, more explosive and more earnest than ever before.’
(Words by Nathan Evans)
Read The Quietus’ full review here
Heavy Heavy is out now on Ninja Tune. Young Fathers will tour the UK throughout spring 2023.
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