Toyo Senpai

ELROD’s “Howl” grabs you fast with gritty guitars playing lush chords that connect right away, paired with clever little arpeggios that give the song extra texture. The vocals are the real standout here, clear, crisp, and almost raw sounding, like you’re hearing them live. They’re bold and full of personality, driving the song up and down, getting louder and more powerful in intense moments, then pulling back to something softer and more intimate right after.
Lyrically, the song feels like someone that’s caught between fear and honesty, falling down, begging to stay, and realizing they’re chasing something that was never meant for them, like howling at a moon that isn’t theirs. That mix of hope and hurt matches the way the vocals move through the song.
The drums stay slow and steady, keeping the whole track grounded while everything else builds around it. The song also moves through different sections, giving the song its own sense of flow and movement instead of being rigid.
The best part is the guitar solo near the end. Everything gets more intense right there, and the background vocals join in, wrapped in reverb and other effects, giving that moment a huge, almost otherworldly feeling. The engineering of the vocals and instrumentals throughout the mix is excellent, with delay and reverb used in all the right spots.
“Howl” is a bold, emotional and unique song that keeps building until it gets to it’s peak.