Seattle rock group OurDeadFathers has released its new record, OurDeadFathers II. The melancholic, percussion-heavy LP is a purposefully ambiguous reflection on life and loss that’s infused with sappy bass, moody guitar riffs, and thumping drum beats. The murky instrumentals and understated vocals that feature on all 10 tracks allow OurDeadFathers II to flow cohesively, making the LP present itself as one singular monologue — as opposed to 10 separate statements — on the difficulty of understanding our own human emotions.
Tracks such as “On Windowsill” and “Damage” are imbued with sultry, country-esque sounds like honeyed strings and softly pattering drums that entice listeners to sway along to the lilting beats. The vocals on “On Windowsill” are slightly hazy, with an alluring drawl that pairs well with the Old West saloon feel of the track. On “Damage,” this dreamy crooning is enhanced by the striking lightness of the guitar interlude in the bridge.
“Even Wolves” — a bluesy rock ballad that employs low, guttural bass from Dan Infecto and impassioned, more articulate vocals from Christopher Michael Meyer — incorporates a similar air of mystery. As the track rises and falls in intensity, the sentiment expressed in the vocals shifts languidly between strain and relief; it’s as if the singer is fighting his own instincts in the struggle to identify and collect his feelings.
The LP continues to project this mystifying stream of consciousness in tracks like “Spells” and “Ship Is Sinking,” which have soft, chiming introductions with delicate guitar strumming and elongated notes that make for more than a few pleasing harmonies. “Mystery Rider” has similarly fluttering instrumentals that give way to the mellower sounds of symphonic rock. Although the lyrics are murmured and less distinguishable, this ambiguity works in the track’s favor and enhances its raw, unfiltered emotion.
The penultimate track is “Behind The Eyes,” a muted piece that has elegant guitar picking and psychedelic bass. Like its predecessors, “Behind The Eyes” produces a steady stream of slow-building instrumentals, incorporating stylistic variations like spritzes of funky guitar and glassy strings that randomize the track’s presentation and embrace a generalized uncertainty.
OurDeadFathers II is rife with relatable and pleasantly unknown emotionality whose origin is hard to discern, though no less resounding. Allusions to the symptoms of grief and the unshakable sense of wistful glum that pervade the LP are left up to interpretation, as the band uses this record as both a cathartic release and prompting for further rumination. The LP is sustained by instrumentals glazed in a smooth blue funk that exudes tangible solemnity, while leading but ultimately inconclusive lyrics are devised as a means of humbling reflection: On their second release, OurDeadFathers focuses on embracing, rather than criticizing or understanding, the murky feelings present throughout each track on the album.
Give it a listen below, and let us know what emotions OurDeadFathers II brings up for you.
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