On his latest single ‘Break These Chains’, Dutch artist Harry Kappen has delivered a powerful message. A melodic uprising against the cultural rot that festers when truth becomes optional and leadership becomes theatre. Drawing from the well of socially-conscious songwriting, Kappen has made a track that bristles with purpose, urgency, and unmistakable fire.
The second offering from his upcoming album ‘Four’, ‘Break These Chains’ feels like a wake-up call. It’s gritty and direct, cutting through the noise with a defiant energy that recalls classic protest rock- but without sounding dated. Kappen’s musicianship is as sharp as his message, fiery guitar lines grind against a pounding rhythm section, underscoring lyrics that ask pointed questions and refuse easy answers.
There’s a frustration embedded in the chorus that’s all too familiar in today’s polarised climate. When he sings, “Where are the angels when you need them?”, it’s less rhetorical than it is a cry for accountability in a world where spin often trumps sincerity. Kappen’s voice isn’t just singing these lines- he’s living them, and you can hear it in the way he pushes every note.
What gives this single extra weight is Kappen’s background- not only as a multi-instrumentalist and seasoned performer, but as someone who works in youth care and music therapy. That depth of lived experience bleeds into his sound. He doesn’t merely observe dysfunction from a distance; he confronts it head-on, both in his day job and in his art.
While ‘Break These Chains’ is a standout on its own, it also acts as a pulse check for the broader themes Kappen is exploring on ‘Four’- truth, memory, compassion, and the fight to stay grounded in the now. It’s bold, it’s topical, and it’s driven by the kind of moral compass more artists could stand to follow.