7/10

After nearly a decade in the making, Brian Halloran returns to the fold with 'Disquiet, a sweeping collection that feels tailor-made for echoing through vast arenas yet remains deeply intimate in its themes. With a soundscape shaped by giants like U2, The Killers, and Muse, Halloran’s vision was nothing short of grand: towering choruses, anthemic melodies, and a polish that makes every track feel urgent and vital.

Performing, writing, and producing every song himself before later enlisting Ricky Watts, best known for his work with 30 Seconds to Mars, to handle the final mixes, his contribution pushes the album’s energy and clarity to soaring new heights, resulting in songs that feel big enough to touch the sky, but still close enough to strike the heart.

The album’s emotional weight remains unmistakable as ever. Tracks like 'Another Room', which earned a finalist nod in the International Songwriting Competition, wrestle with the aftermath of loss and mental health struggles, inspired by the shocking death of Robin Williams. Elsewhere, songs such as 'Sleepwalkers' and 'The Ramparts' tackle broader unrest, painting vivid and timely portraits of societal fracture with an undercurrent of resilience.

Despite the record’s cinematic ambitions, 'Disquiet' remains personal and raw at its core. But for all the melancholy, there’s a powerful current of defiance and hope just beneath the surface, a belief that through the noise and grief, a new clarity can emerge.

Brian Halloran's 'Disquiet' will be available to stream from the 13th May.