by Sebastian Kluth
I'm simply grateful to be alive in a time when French progressive gothic metal quintet The Old Dead Tree keeps releasing excellent new music. Second Thoughts comes as a most beautiful surprise since the band had already been on hiatus since 2009, then again since 2013 and finally since 2017. The group's fourth full length studio record comes more than seventeen years after its melancholic predecessor The Water Fields and it was most certainly worth the wait. The band recaptures the majesty of yore and sounds as if it had never ever been away. Second Thoughts is simply an album to dive into time and again as it brings chills and comfort alike.
This album convinces on many levels that fans of old date have already come accustomed to. This already starts with the atmospheric, creative and enigmatic cover artwork that would make a wonderful design for flags, posters and shirts alike. It continues with the balanced, moody and timeless production of the highest standard. Up next, one has to mention the band's highly emotional lyrics dealing with the darker sides of life that most listeners can empathize with. The drum play is imaginative, liberating and varied throughout. The bass guitar play is domineering, playful and rhythmic. The guitar play finds the perfect balance between gritty extreme metal riffs and airy progressive rock sequences while also excelling in the melodic solo department. The vocals sound charismatic, memorable and unique and transition effortlessly from fragile clean sections to explosive growls and all the way back again. The band also employs a few decently employed sound samples for emotional depth that often serve as fluid transitions between different pieces. The best way to enjoy the music of this band is by listening to a record from start to finish. Once the impressive voyage of fifty-five minutes through fourteen tracks is over, fans of the band will already feel like hitting the repeat button and enjoy escapism at it best at full length again.
Highlights there are aplenty and if this website allowed it, I would dedicate some time to describing each and every track on Second Thoughts. Picking a few favourites feels like picking your favourite children among fourteen candidates and simply isn't fair but I will nonetheless try to do my very best. Opener and single "Unpredictable" opens the record on a high note and refreshingly gets to the point in three and a half minutes as it convinces with airy, dreamy and otherworldly guitar play and relaxing, smooth and soothing vocals leading to quite a few catchy passages growing with every single spin.
"Luke" doesn't only tell a tragical story offering food for thought but also shines as this album's most imaginative, playful and progressive song. Situated right in the middle of this wonderful album, it would be no exaggeration to call this song the album's genuine heartpiece. Needless to say that this is indeed my favourite song on the output.
"I Wish I Could" wonderfully meanders between harsh and soft passages and might go down as this record's most melancholic tune that also grows with every spin. This creative balance makes this song an ideal candidate for potential new fans to hear the quintet's different soundscapes in one single track.
"Solastalgia" has not only taught me a fascinating new word but sounds almost mantra-like with its enchanting multiple vocal layers that invite listeners to dream themselves far away.
"OK" is much more direct, intense and punchy and convinces wonderfully as an outthought contrast immediately after.
A special mention goes out to digital bonus track in form of last year's single "Terrified", a passionate mid-paced gothic metal anthem that might qualify as this record's most accessible tune for newcomers.
As you can read, The Old Dead Tree's Second Thoughts has impressed me right from the start and has even grown on me in the past few weeks as it easily qualifies among the five best studio records released this calendar year. This band in general and this album in particular deserve so much more attention and if it were up to me, this band would have played at the Olympics Opening Ceremony instead of Gojira last summer. If you care even the slightest about progressive metal or gothic metal, give yourself a gift and listen to this wonderful album from start to finish. I have a big smile upon my face knowing that The Old Dead Tree isn't quite dead yet and back in full strength instead. The only thing left to say is a gigantic "thank you" to the whole band for its remarkable dedication to bring this release to life.