HoneyBombs – There Is an Elephant in the Room

Italian melodic metal band HoneyBombs was founded in 2012 by guitarist Alex Rotten, and the lineup is completed by vocalist Andrew Skid, guitarist Doctor Gain, bassist Luke Vanilla, and drummer Dany Cool. The band launched their career delivering powerful 1980s hard rock, which defined their 2017 debut album, Wet Girls and Other Funny Tales. Nearly fifteen years later, HoneyBombs has evolved, today playing an intense brand of technical power/speed metal heavily shaped by progressive rock, thrash metal, and vintage hard rock influences.

This sonic evolution culminates in their sophomore album, There Is an Elephant in the Room, released via Underground Symphony Records. On this ambitious second full-length release, the band delivers a 15-track conceptual piece divided into two distinct parts, cementing their shift into a technical power, speed, and heavy metal direction.

There Is an Elephant in the Room explores a concept narrative of internal annihilation. The story illustrates a psychological battlefield where the deepest part of the soul screams out against an individual attempting to suppress it. This rebellion, continuous struggle, and eventual psychological stalemate lead to madness and suffering before reaching a final battle. Ultimately, both sides emerge as losers, giving life to a brand-new persona born from the ashes.

Two key highlights from this expansive record are “Feels Like Heaven” and “Berserk”. The former stands out due to an aggressive, high-impact instrumental intro driven by prominent double-bass drum work. The track showcases top-tier instrumentation, specifically featuring a brilliant, energetic twin-guitar solo. Despite the heavy, in-your-face drum opening, the song settles into a beautifully melodic structure that honors the band’s ’80s hard rock roots. Meanwhile, “Berserk” shifts gears into a high-speed, catchy anthem driven by a steady rock beat, down-tuned guitars, sharp soloing, and classic, soaring rock vocals. Among the other strong compositions, the acoustic instrumental “Ocean in a Drop” and the blistering track “Lothario Foppish”—where the band flexes impressive thrash metal mechanics—are well worth a mention.

Despite flawless and immaculate musicianship, There Is an Elephant in the Room has its flaws, occasionally suffering from a lack of a clear stylistic direction. On the formatting side, however, the production style seamlessly blends vintage sonic architecture with a sleek, punchy modern clarity. By avoiding the confines of a single subgenre, the band achieves a fresh and varied listening experience. Visually, the cover art captures the themes of internal conflict and suppressed truths, aligning perfectly with the heavy undertones of the music.

The album is highly recommended for enthusiasts of a diverse mix of power/speed metal who appreciate a contemporary, melodic approach to their tones. There Is an Elephant in the Room is available now in a deluxe digipak edition, as well as on all major streaming platforms. For further details on HoneyBombs, you can visit their official Facebook page.