THE OLD WIND

The Old Wind is a new one-man studio project conceived by Tomas Liljedahl, vocalist of the long defunct and visionary blackened post-hardcore band Breach. Adopting the role of musical auteur, he's written and recorded all music; performing every instrument himself and overlaying the tracks with despair coated growls. Born from a period in his life when he "was in need of therapy" after "a couple of really dark years", the results are, not surprisingly, bleak. Incredibly bleak in fact, lyrically and sonically. However, Liljedahl has created engaging art from the compositions' anguished and tormented roots; this is finely crafted musical despair. And although the pervasive bleakness is framed within doomy, sludgy, and down-tempo song structures, amidst all the affectively grim emotions are small glimpses of hope and optimism. The generally dissonant nature of the music is very occasionally punctuated with more uplifting melodies that briefly shine through before descending back into oppressive melancholic gloom. But these moments are few so expect an emphatic feeling of despondency throughout. The album's a tad short but 'Feast on Your Gone' ultimately provides a rough and tumultuous listening experience through its inherent abject dynamic so perhaps its playing time of under thirty five minutes is a wise move. And it's worth noting that a live incarnation of The Old Wind is planned with two more ex-Breach members (bassist Kristian Andersson and guitarist Niklas Quintana); Vaka's Karl Daniel Liden on drums and The Ocean/Pelagic Records mainman Robin Staps contributing further guitars so audiences will soon be able to digest Liljedahl's musical despair first-hand. That'll be a cheery night out!

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Pelagic Records

Album

FEAST ON YOUR GONE

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

34:46

RELEASE DATE:

19th April 2013

TRACK LISTING

1) In Fields
2) I'm Dead
3) Raveneye
4) The Old Wind
5) Spears of a Thousand
6) Reign

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"...finely crafted musical despair."