Review by Jeger on November 28, 2024.

The Old Dead Tree has been an artistic institution in France since 1997. Their music has always transcended typical genre classifications - skirting the lines that separate doom, gothic and dark progressive metals with much explored between the parallels - a collective whose sound has been noted for both class and prestige.

An old dead tree - an effigy of a once-thriving life lost to the assurance of demise. Such is the way of life and to be human is to experience regret, heartache and perdition; all before our own passing on. Time is the great judge, the jury and the executioner. We hold onto the frail notion of redemption's freedom from the nightmare we've created for ourselves, but sometimes redemption doesn't come, and that's when groups of artists like The Old Dead Tree come into play; to remind us of life's bitter truths and the inevitability of night falling upon dreams of yesterday. Sweet poetry for the yearning soul who's known life's few absolutes: suffering, death and the frail hope for a better tomorrow.

In 2019, The Old Dead Tree released their return-to-form EP, The End, to the enthrallment of both fans and critics. Now, we await a brand new full-length LP from our soulmates in this search for meaning in a world fallen. And this new opus stands as an epic work that embodies everything this band does well: homages to memento mori in pieces like "Don't Waste Your Time", riff-driven bangers like "Without A Second Thought" that alternate between aggression and elegance along with visuals-inspiring dirges such as "Fresh Start" and "The Trap" that conjure up images of desolate nights relinquished unto hopelessness. Listen in quiet reflection as the hounds bale and as the rain pours o'er this eve of retribution's flee.

There's just so much to take in. No track is the same, and this varied approach to songwriting, this brilliant track arrangement accomplishment only gets better as the sands slip through the hourglass. Manuel Munoz delivers a tour de force contribution as he offers up a broad variety of vocal styles ranging from soulful drawls to noble trills and calming lullabies. The entire band and every guest musician bring the kind of heart & soul you would expect from collectives such as Katatonia or Paradise Lost, but with so much more texture and vision. What an artful record and what a rare treat.

Now, as the sands of our own hourglasses run through in promise of death most inevitable, we can look to that old dead tree and choose to live what's left of our existence with meaning; to go not gently into that good night! Let us light the candles of remembrance this eve if only as a way to illuminate the beginning of a brighter path ahead. We can never return to the past and we cannot mend all of life's many compound fractures. We cannot bring them back nor can we take back the things we've said… You can however prepare for the reckoning day of December 6, 2024 when The Old Dead Tree returns with Second Thoughts - a gift of the most deeply-nourishing consort. An opus of grande proportions and a long time coming. Doesn't get much sweeter than this…

Rating: 9 out of 10