CD review GOLD ‘Why Aren’t You Laughing?’

(8/10) The first time I got in touch with Gold and their music was when the band opened for Dool in Utrecht a while ago. I must say that the guys left me with some mixed feelings and listening to them wasn’t a bad experience at all. It was me that I couldn‘t position the band on my musical map and they left me with some question marks.

A couple of weeks ago I was reminded of this show. It was Gold‘s new album I picked up from my inbox and curiosity rose.

Now, I must say that I like what I got to hear. Gold is about dark ambient sounds that merges Occult Rock, Post Metal and Gothic. This combination describes the generic pattern from which the quintet sometimes deviate.

‘Please Tell Me You’re Not the Future’ is such a moment. The tune spreads a dark spirit and includes an anarchic undertone. As with many of the other songs it’s a repetitive musical theme that builds the base for a song, which accumulates and explodes towards the end. The song’s also a good example for Gold’s dense wall of sounds. You’re ears are confronted with a solid wall of guitars with Milena Eva’s vocals being a great counterpart.

I can also recommend to listen to the hypnotic opener ‘He is Not’. The atmospheric song is an excellent introduction to an album that’s based on melancholic fate. The songs addresses the loss of someone close and the emptiness that follows.

The heavy outburst ‘Taken by Storm’ is another highlight on the album, a moment when the dense guitar sound returns. Gold skilfully jumps between faster and doomy songs. Was it ‘Taken by Strom’ representing the faster moment it is the following ‘Wide-Eyed’ that drowns in a touch of melancholy. ‘Killing at Least 13’ picks up this pattern, spreading sadness and woe.

‘Why Aren’t You Laughing’ isn’t a happy album and it doesn’t include singalong songs either. It’s more of a musical journey into the depth of human souls and everything that’s connected to it. I’m convinced that my next live experience of Gold is a much better one. Looking forward to it.

(8/10)

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