Isaac Howlett – Eggshell

Isaac Howlett’s previous two solo releases, “House of Cards” and “Spiralling,” both arrived with considerable energy and forward momentum. “Eggshell” takes a different approach. The tempo slows, the atmosphere thickens, and the focus shifts almost entirely onto the vocal. That turns out to be a deliberate and revealing choice.

Isaac Howlett brought in Daniel Myer, known for his work with Liebknecht, Architect, Devision Redux, and Covenant, to produce, and the result has a darker, punchier edge than his previous efforts. “Eggshell can be seen as a companion piece to Empathy Test’s ‘Demons’,” Howlett has said, “and inhabits a similar realm, atmospherically. Written around the same time, it’s one of the few songs I’ve written that’s told from someone else’s perspective. It’s the response of the silent partner in Demons.” For Empathy Test fans that context adds a layer that rewards close listening.

The slower pace does what it is designed to do: it puts Howlett’s voice front and center and lets it carry the weight of the song. The performance is haunting and the vocal ability on display is undeniable.

That said, “Eggshell” feels more like an album interlude than a standalone single. It is a strong piece of writing and the production is precise, but it does not have the immediate replay pull of “Spiralling” or “House of Cards.” Those tracks are likely to stay in rotation longer. This one earns its place in the catalog without quite reaching the heights of what came before it.

Label: Self-released Released: October 3, 2025