Hailing from South Buckinghamshire, post-hardcore quintet Halfway Home are making this year their own with the release of their sophomore EP, Winter. After checking out their debut EP, Autumn, and having the pleasure of catching these guys live last year, I had high hopes for this release–and it did not disappoint. Winter kicks off with "Solstice," and immediately this track grabbed my attention. "Solstice" opens with a discussion about mental health between two people, and as an avid music fan, I can't say that this is something I've come across often. Setting the storyline up this way not only stands out, but also sets up the theme for the rest of the EP. To me, the track speaks upon how society stereotypically sees mental illness, and how trying to live up to those expectations can add even more pressure to those already struggling day-to-day.Following on is "Leeches," the first of two singles from this release. Opening with a catchy guitar riff and rhythmic drums, this track predominantly tells a story of grief and pain caused by cheating in a relationship. Lyrically, the narrator spirals in on themselves, bringing back childhood memories and the stigma around their own mental state–the latter is something I'm sure most of us can relate to.Track three, "Dreamawake," brings us to the 2nd released single of Winter. Don't let the piano intro of this song fool you into thinking a change in pace is coming– it's promptly followed by punchy guitar tones that will definitely get a crowd moving. "Dreamawake" brings a positive kick to the EP, reminding us that despite everything we've been through, we are the ones in charge of our own fate. We have the power to push through and achieve everything that we want to. Following on from "Dreamawake" comes "The Edge." With this song, I could immediately tell that it would get great crowd participation when played live. It's catchy lyrics depict resilience in chasing your dreams, but also being afraid of getting back to square one. These lyrics are paired with instrumentals that are vibrant, already getting me hyped up whilst I write this. "The Edge" is certainly set to become a crowd pleaser.Last but by no means least, "Ego Death" rounds out the EP. Acoustic guitars hit us straight off-the-bat; a complete tone difference from what we've experienced throughout the rest of Winter. The lyrics discuss the feeling of overthinking every choice and decision you've ever made, and replaying those memories–both good and bad–over, and over again. There's also an overarching theme of perseverance and coming out the other side better. I'd be lying if I said this track didn't get me emotional. Musically and lyrically, I truly believe this one will hit home for a lot of us in the best possible way.Overall I really enjoyed Winter and cannot wait to see what Halfway Home is planning around it. Despite it only being March, I can confidently say that this EP will be a strong contender for my top release of the year. The raw, emotional honesty running throughout Winter really resonated with me, and I'm certain it will do the same for a lot of other people too. Halfway Home are certainly a band to keep your eye on, they will only be rising up from here.Keep up with Halfway Home and their future releases here.