EP Review: Halflives – How Much a Heart Can Take Before It Breaks (Still Standing Group)

Released on April 11th, 2025, via Still Standing, ‘How Much a Heart Can Take Before It Breaks’ is the brand-new EP from Halflives. Written and self-produced by Linda Battilani, the new record addresses issues like the consequences of social media, capitalism and marginalization, alongside more personal reflections on finding one’s place in the world.

Halflives, aka Linda Battilani, has grown since the last time we checked in and with this development comes refinement. A more focused alternative rock and metal sound that delivers a mighty powerful experience across its five tracks, especially as each has something to say.

Some more notable than others, such as the opening track, Eat Sleep Work Die!!! Repeat, which speaks of the stifling pressures of modern life that we all feel in some way or another. It just so happens to come wrapped up in a punchy and anthemic sound. Whereas No Way Out might speak about the feeling of drowning under a weight of societal expectations, it has Halflives’ natural buoyancy, so you’ll never feel completely lost while listening to a track like this.

That it, and everything else on EP, just happens to be so damn catchy is often just a bonus. Even though it can often be emotional to listen to. That’s Halflives for you though, and a track like Permanent Damage can have such a profound effect and then be followed by something as empowering as Immortals.

An anthem of defiance for the marginalised and oppressed, it’s sunny and peppy, with a likable anthemic quality to it. The wonderful vocals work so well with the infectious pop rock rhythm and light melodies. Whereas the finale of perfectly broken shows just how refined Halflives alternative pop-rock sound is now. Taking the accessibility of it all and enhancing it to the extreme. It has got some serious heart and soul, and its chorus will have most bouncing up and down victoriously.

Mightily powerful stuff from an artist moving forward with purpose.

Halflives – How Much a Heart Can Take Before It Breaks Track Listing:

1. Eat Sleep Work Die!!! Repeat
2. No Way Out
3. Permanent Damage
4. Immortals
5. perfectly broken

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