ItÔÇÖs hard to believe itÔÇÖs been more than three years since Deaf Havana released ÔÇÿOld SoulsÔÇÖ. Having owned the NME Stage at Reading and secured support slots with Muse and Springsteen, the stage was set for the East Coast rockers to step up to rockÔÇÖs A-list. As it turned out, behind the scenes problems with management and finances resulted in the band nearly calling it quits in 2014.

But, despite the departure of guitarist Chris Pennells, the remaining five-piece stuck at it after lead singer James Veck-Gilodi hit a streak of inspiration. ┬áThe result is ÔÇÿAll These Countless NightsÔÇÖ, a blistering return that sees Deaf Havana marry the heavier sound of early records with the more considered songwriting of ÔÇÿOld SoulsÔÇÖ.

That album occasionally suffered from fitting crowded arrangements (the band experimenting with strings, 12-string guitars and mandolins) into what felt like narrow mixes (producer Youth is prone to this). ÔÇÿAll These Countless NightsÔÇÖ could have you fooled with the acoustic intro, but when ÔÇÿAshes, AshesÔÇÖ kicks in itÔÇÖs clear that Deaf Havana are back to their hard-rocking best, with the Veck-Gilodi brothersÔÇÖ impassioned vocals to the fore.

But thereÔÇÖs room for range and invention. The midsection of ÔÇÿPretty LowÔÇÖ features a demonic guitar interlude before abruptly returning to the more morose lilt of the chorus. The boys have clearly had time to fiddle with their effects pedals because there are some tremendous riffs and tricks on show here.

ÔÇÿAll These Countless NightsÔÇÖ is three years of personal and professional frustration bottled up, shaken and spat back out over 12 urgent tracks. Veck-GilodiÔÇÖs lyrics are autobiographical as ever, but the trials and tribulations he describes are so universal that itÔÇÖs rare for him to stray from relatability.

After the euphoria of forward-looking rock-banger ÔÇÿSINGÔÇÖ, itÔÇÖd be unlike Deaf Havana to send us out on a positive note. ÔÇÿPensacola 2013ÔÇÖ finds Veck-Gilodi grappling with his legacy (ÔÇ£I wonder if my name is still written on the wallÔÇØ) over squalling guitars, but if he can continue to write songs this good, he neednÔÇÖt worry about being forgotten any time soon.

Dillon Estoe