Old Silence – Too Soon To Be Gone (2024)
Bringing a new side to grunge, Old Silence is the self-described “neo-grunge” group set to intoxicate audiences, ensnare senses, and pioneer a brand-new breed of rock. Inspired by the likes of Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam, the French foursome elegantly combines flavours of rock while interweaving old-school weightiness with contemporary grittiness. Formed in 2022, Old Silence has built a national reputation for energetic, enigmatic and high-powered melodies; however, the band’s prowess is reaching far beyond their native France turning heads in the USA, UK, Germany and elsewhere.
Ending 2024 with their three-track debut EP, Too Soon To Be Gone, Old Silence captures the core of vintage grunge with slices of alternative rock shimmering in the composition. Reminiscent of Rage Against The Machine, Too Soon To Be Gone drags me back to the 90s breathing life into nostalgic memories of yesteryear’s grunge scene. Yet, as much as we have yesteryear, there is a notable sophistication amidst the raw vulnerability speaking to audiences from different generations.
Not merely songs to be heard, Old Silence’s music is a sonic experience with its vivid kaleidoscopic sound and almost palpable intensity. Opening with the track ‘Ragdolls’, we are tossed immediately into a tumultuous sonic river knocked from pillar to post with the hard-hitting rush of rock music. A pulsating bass meets crashing drums and soaring guitars; however, just as each instrument offers individuality within the distorted soundscape, each one’s prominence contributes to the complementary harmony of a chaotic song.
Continuing with ‘Minds At War’, Old Silence retain the frenzied rage begun with ‘Ragdolls’, but it offers something harder lingering on the edge of hard rock and melodic metal. The final title track offers a sense of duality as it drags audiences further toward the insanity of Too Soon To Be Gone, but with a soothing comfort lifting us above the intensity of its chaotic sound.
For me, the instrumentation and melodic composition are intriguing and infectious, but the vocals are the extra touch of something special. Gruff, rough and cracked, one feels tragedy and aggression with each note; however, an intimate warmth breaks through in the flawless delivery.
Traipsing across a realm of clarity and sophistication with the fieriness of rage, listening to Old Silence is unforgettable and inimitable. It’s the last shot of vodka with a tequila chaser running down your throat, coursing through your veins, and leaving you blissfully flabbergasted; that’s Old Silence.
Find out more about Old Silence on their Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky and Spotify.
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