English (UK) 
Refuge’s Haven to a Heavy Soul is a rough-around-the-edges album that’s filled with attitude and potential.
I was planning on being objective and critical with this piece but the truth is that Haven to a Heavy Soul is one of the coolest albums I’ve ever had to review. First off, Refuge are a band made up of teenagers based in Kenya but have roots that span 4 continents – members coming from as far afield as Bolivia and Belgium – and their aim is to get away from inauthentic music while also driving for social consciousness. Secondly, their blues-rock sound is a mixture of all the best parts of rock ‘n roll’s hey-day.
That’s not to say it doesn’t need some refining. The odd fudged note or beat brings a slight sense of uncertainty and their sound is derivative to some extent, their reliance on the sensibilities of their influences shows they haven’t quite settled as musicians, but those things will come with time.
The germ of Refuge’s sound is already there. The band’s interpretation of the classic rock sound is the product of musicians who know what they’re doing - the little nod to the Led Zeppelin classic ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ in ‘Only Time’ is as tasteful as it gets – and the vocals have the potential to be something special in the future.
Yes, Haven to a Heavy Soul is shaky at times, yet, there’s an abundance of potential and if these kids keep doing what they’re doing they could very easily be a force to be reckoned with-in a few years.
