Heavy Covenant

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"Heavy Covenant"
Single by The Hold Steady
ReleasedJanuary 8, 2021 (2021-01-08)
StudioThe Clubhouse, Rhinebeck, New York City[1]
GenreRock
Length4:39
Label
  • Positive Jams
  • Thirty Tigers
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Josh Kaufman
The Hold Steady singles chronology
"Family Farm"
(2020) 		"Heavy Covenant"
(2021)
Audio video
"Heavy Covenant" on YouTube

"Heavy Covenant" is a song by American indie rock band the Hold Steady. It was released on January 8, 2021, as the second single from their upcoming eighth studio album, Open Door Policy by Positive Jams and Thirty Tigers.[2] The song was written by Craig Finn and Franz Nicolay, with Josh Kaufman handling production.

Background and release[edit]

On December 1, 2020, the Hold Steady shared a new track "Family Farm" as the lead single from their upcoming eighth studio album,Open Door Policy, slated for release on February 19, 2021.[3] "Heavy Covenant" was revealed as the sixth track on the record.[4] On January 8, 2021, the song was released as the second single from the album.[5][6][7]

Composition[edit]

"Heavy Covenant" was written by the band members Craig Finn and Franz Nicolay, and produced by Josh Kaufman.[8] It has been described a slow-building horn-laced rock track in press reviews.[6][9][10] Building with bright synth flourishes, the song features guitars, drums and a driving percussion.[6][9][10] Angie Martoccio of Rolling Stone also noted the use of a "buzzing" guitar riff.[1] The song is four minutes and 39 seconds in length.[11] Lyrically, "Heavy Covenant" discusses travel, technology, and human connection.[1] Speaking about how the song was conceived, Craig Finn stated that it "came out of two different music pieces that THS piano/keyboardist Franz Nicolay brought in, and with the help of producer Josh Kaufman, we combined them."[10] The horns were added in later to the chorus.[10]

Critical reception[edit]

Tom Breihan of Stereogum described "Heavy Covenant" as "a classic Hold Steady song" that "attaches musical exhilaration to a story of degradation."[10] Polly Glass and Fraser Lewry of Classic Rock listed it as one of the best songs of its release week and wrote that the song "tips its hat to influences like Bruce Springsteen and Husker Du, while conjuring an organ-laced, storytelling depth of its own."[12] BrooklynVegan also included the song on their playlist of favourite songs of the week.[13] Beats Per Minute dubbed it as "a modern Hold Steady sound", lauding Finn's vocal performance and storytelling.[9]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[8]

The Hold Steady

Production

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Martoccio, Angie (January 8, 2021). "The Hold Steady Drop Fiery 'Heavy Covenant'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  2. ^ Hughes, Josiah (January 8, 2021). "The Hold Steady Share New Track 'Heavy Covenant'". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Moreland, Quinn (December 1, 2020). "The Hold Steady Announce New Album, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "The Hold Steady release new song Heavy Covenant'". DIY. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Neale, Matthew (January 8, 2021). "The Hold Steady share new track 'Heavy Covenant'". NME. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Schatz, Lake (January 8, 2021). "The Hold Steady Reveal New Single "Heavy Covenant": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (January 8, 2021). "The Hold Steady Drop New Song 'Heavy Covenant'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Credits / Heavy Covenant / The Hold Steady". Tidal. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "The Hold Steady deliver a shining chronicle of human connection in Heavy Covenant". Beats Per Minute. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e Breihan, Tom (January 8, 2021). "The Hold Steady – 'Heavy Covenant'". Stereogum. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  11. ^ "Open Door Policy - The Hold Steady". Apple Music. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  12. ^ Glass, Polly; Lewry, Fraser (January 11, 2021). "Tracks of the Week: new music from Inglorious, The Dust Coda and more". Classic Rock. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Our favorite songs of the week (playlist): Bowie, Jazmine Sullivan, Weather Station & more". BrooklynVegan. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.


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