🎵 Tracklist:
Track 1: To Know the Night
Track 2: The Worst Is Yet to Come
Track 3: In Disguise
Track 4: Kowloon Lights
Track 5: 2 AM Thoughts
Track 6: Canvas
Track 7: Neglect
Track 8: 44 YOD
Track 9: Healed?
🎸 Album Review:
Hangman’s Chair, the French doom metal band known for their melancholic and heavy sound, has returned with their latest album “Saddiction”. Released in 2021, this album delves deep into introspective themes of pain, addiction, and emotional turmoil, delivered through a sonic landscape that is both crushing and cathartic.
From the opening track “To Know the Night”, Hangman’s Chair sets the tone for the album with haunting melodies and brooding atmosphere. The band’s signature blend of sludge and doom metal is evident throughout the album, with heavy riffs, downtrodden vocals, and somber melodies weaving a tapestry of despair and desolation. The production on “Saddiction” is top-notch, capturing the raw emotion and intensity of the band’s performance.
One of the standout tracks on the album is “The Worst Is Yet to Come”, a slow-burning behemoth that builds tension with its churning guitars and pained vocals. The track reaches its climax with a crushing crescendo that hits like a sledgehammer, leaving the listener emotionally drained yet strangely invigorated. “In Disguise” showcases Hangman’s Chair’s ability to create dynamic shifts within their music, moving from delicate acoustic passages to thunderous metal outbursts with seamless precision.
“Kowloon Lights” is a mesmerizing track that showcases the band’s ability to create atmosphere with their music. The haunting melodies and ethereal vocals create a sense of unease and melancholy, drawing the listener into a dark and mysterious world. “2 AM Thoughts” is another standout track, with its introspective lyrics and hypnotic rhythms lulling the listener into a trance-like state.
The album takes a more experimental turn with tracks like “Canvas” and “Neglect”, incorporating elements of post-rock and shoegaze into Hangman’s Chair’s trademark sound. These tracks showcase the band’s willingness to push boundaries and explore new sonic territories while still staying true to their roots.
“44 YOD” is a powerful and emotionally charged track that deals with themes of loss and grief. The haunting vocals and mournful melodies create a sense of sorrow and longing that is palpable. The album closes with “Healed?”, a fittingly ambiguous title for a track that leaves the listener questioning whether healing is truly possible in the face of such overwhelming pain and suffering.
In comparison to Hangman’s Chair’s previous albums, “Saddiction” feels like a natural progression for the band. While still retaining their trademark sound and emotional depth, the band shows growth and maturity in their songwriting and musicianship. The album feels more cohesive and focused, with each track flowing seamlessly into the next to create a unified listening experience.
Overall, “Saddiction” is a powerful and immersive album that delves deep into the darker corners of the human experience. Hangman’s Chair has crafted a work of art that is both crushing in its heaviness and haunting in its beauty. This is an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety, as each track contributes to the overall emotional journey that the band has created.
In conclusion, “Saddiction” is a masterful display of doom metal at its finest, showcasing Hangman’s Chair’s ability to create music that is both sonically devastating and emotionally resonant. This album solidifies the band’s place as one of the leading voices in the genre, and cements their reputation as masters of melancholy and despair.