Album Review: HÄVEN – Where Angels Fear To Tread

Pride & Joy Music – November 13^th, 2026

Reviewer – Chris O’Connor

Every so often, a project comes along that makes you wonder why the musicians involved hadn’t thought of putting something together sooner. HÄVEN, featuring the wonderful Gabrielle de Val and Swedish guitar maestro Tommy Denander, is one such proposition.

Originally conceived during the writing sessions for de Val‘s forthcoming solo album ‘Revolution‘, HÄVEN developed almost organically when several compositions began venturing into considerably heavier territory than her customary melodic rock and AOR.

Rather than attempting to shoehorn these songs into her solo repertoire, the decision was made to create an entirely new band. And what a splendid decision that appears to have been.

Joining Gabrielle and Denander are guitarist Gustavo Martín, bassist José Luis Gallera, keyboardist Isabel Fernández and drummer Robert van der Laar, creating a formidable musical collective capable of moving effortlessly between melodic hard rock, symphonic rock and outright metal.

Opening number ‘The Hunger Inside‘ immediately establishes the band’s intentions. Powerful guitar riffs, atmospheric keyboards and Gabrielle’s wonderfully expressive vocals combine to create something considerably more muscular than her previous solo material, without sacrificing the melodic sophistication that makes her such an appealing performer.

‘Struck Out‘ possesses a gloriously traditional hard-rocking swagger, while ‘Dust‘ ventures into darker, heavier territory. ‘Frozen In Time‘, meanwhile, demonstrates the band’s ability to combine genuine emotional depth with considerable musical power.

The title track is particularly ambitious, with its expansive arrangements, dramatic instrumental passages and sweeping melodies providing a fascinating glimpse of just how much ground these musicians are prepared to cover. ‘The Politics Of Envy‘ and ‘Skies Of Destiny‘ push the heavier elements further forward, while ‘I Love The Rain‘ offers a more atmospheric and emotionally engaging counterpoint.

Throughout, Denander‘s guitar playing is predictably impressive. His ability to combine technical brilliance with genuine melodic sensitivity has always been one of his greatest strengths, and the additional guitar contributions from Martín give the music welcome depth and authority.

But the real revelation is Gabrielle de Val herself. Her voice possesses sufficient power and character to command these considerably heavier arrangements without losing the warmth and emotional expression that have long been her trademarks.

The closing ‘The Light Brigade‘ provides a suitably grand finale, embracing the album’s symphonic ambitions without completely abandoning its melodic foundations.

Fourteen tracks is a generous helping of music, and listeners expecting straightforward, sugar-coated AOR may find some of the heavier excursions rather surprising. Yet that willingness to explore unfamiliar territory is precisely what makes HÄVEN such an intriguing proposition.

‘Where Angels Fear To Tread‘ represents an ambitious and thoroughly welcome departure for everyone involved. Powerful, melodic and impressively adventurous, it’s a reminder that even within the familiar world of melodic rock, there’s still plenty of room to spread one’s wings.

More of this, please!

Track List:

1. The Hunger Inside
2. Struck Out
3. Dust
4. Frozen In Time
5. Believe In Love
6. Where The Angels Fear To Tread
7. The Politics Of Envy
8. Burning Skies Of Destiny
9. Ghosted
10. I Love The Rain
11. Scarlet Letter
12. Grass Is Greener
13. Dancing Rainbows
14. The Light Brigade

Line-up:

Gabrielle de Val (Lead vocals)

Tommy Denander (Guitar)

Gustavo Martín (Guitar)

José Luis Gallera (Bass)

Isabel Fernández (Keyboards)

Robert van der Laar (Drums)

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