Rock/Review The Savage Hearts - Radio Silence
THE SAVAGE HEARTS are an Irish garage/psych/rock ’n’ roll band formed by former drummer with THE STRYPES, Evan Walsh. From 2012 to 2020, The Strypes’ considerable success included 3 Top 10 albums in the UK/Ireland/Japan, tours with major acts including Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Stone Roses, Liam Gallagher, and Paul Weller, appearances at legendary festivals including Glastonbury, SXSW, and Fuji Rock, as well as notable TV appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, Conan, and Later…with Jools Holland.
The Savage Hearts’ EP “Radio Silence” is a restless, raw, and deeply introspective statement born from uncertainty, transition, and creative rebirth. Written in the strange in-between era as lockdowns eased and normal life hovered just out of reach, the EP captures the psychological static of a mind caught between past identity and future possibility. Rather than offering clean resolutions, “Radio Silence” thrives in that tension, turning internal noise into charged, guitar-driven release.
Sonically, the EP draws heavily from underground ’60s garage and psychedelic rock, with flashes of proto-punk grit and loose, snarling energy. Hints of The Sonics, The Deviants, and early Captain Beefheart ripple through the distorted riffs and raw vocal delivery, while cow-punk influences from bands like The Long Ryders and The Blasters add a rough-edged Americana swagger. The result feels urgent and unpolished in the best way — music that sounds lived-in rather than overthought.
Lyrically, “Radio Silence” avoids literal storytelling in favor of enigmatic, impressionistic lines that mirror racing thoughts and blurred emotional states. Phrases feel deliberately fragmented, allowing listeners to project their own meaning onto the songs. This openness becomes one of the EP’s greatest strengths, transforming personal struggle into something widely relatable. The title concept — a mind spinning at full speed yet struggling to articulate itself — resonates strongly, especially in a post-pandemic world still processing collective disruption.
Ultimately, “Radio Silence” is a document of creative survival. It channels overthinking, dislocation, and transition into something loud, alive, and defiantly human. The Savage Hearts don’t silence the noise — they turn it into fuel, delivering an EP that feels both cathartic and electric.