Heavy Covenant Explained

"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

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

"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

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

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[8]

The Hold Steady

• Bobby Drake
• Craig Finn
• Tad Kubler
• Franz Nicolay
• Galen Polivka
• Steve Selvidge

Production

• Josh Kaufman – producer

Notes and References

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