WL//WH Review: WHITE BIRCHES “A New Reign” LP [Progress Productions]

WL//WH Review WHITE BIRCHES

Photo: Ekaterina Iakiamseva

On November 20th, the Swedish duo White Birches released their new album, “A New Reign,” through Progress Productions. After eight years, this exceptional band from Stockholm has made significant efforts to produce new material, which may be their most important release to date.

I copied this quote from their Bandcamp page:

The years since their previous album have been marked by personal losses, a pandemic, grief, and a fractured world. But it has also been a time for reflection and songwriting, resulting in “A New Reign”. A more personal album, yet with the same striking intensity.

The album was preceded by two leading tracks, “Salt The Earth” and “Breathing”, with an official video too. Please, listen carefully to what’s going on in here, listen to their lyrics, and focus on the music and its sound. I’ll be back shortly…

I dare say that their new album is a magnificent work in every respect. What truly impresses me, however, is the atmosphere and the way their stories unfold. These stories reflect experiences from their lives, as well as events that happen every day in the world. The way they present these facts and thoughts is captivating, just like their new music is.

The “New Reign” album is heavy, refined, and profound, delivering an often impressive atmosphere. It features nine tracks that convey a sense of pessimism. The rhythm and music flow steadily, while the lyrics showcase exceptional interpretations, and the creation of this music reflects a significant effort from the band.

Photo: Ekaterina Iakiamseva

What is slightly overlooked is that this is a deeply moving album, likely created ‘alone’ during their years of absence. This is why I mentioned earlier that it could be their most significant release to date. Just as the album’s content unfolds, the White Birches present a work that demands attention from the very first moment. Don’t assume you’ll grasp everything on the first listen; it takes repeated listens for its nuances to be fully revealed.

You can choose which song suits you best from the album, but apart from the 2 tracks I mentioned above, I challenge you to focus a lot on 2 more: “Femton” and “Primal”. In reality, just press play on the first track of the album and let it fill your speakers until it reaches the end, uninterrupted. Seek out the meanings hidden within the songs. I won’t reveal the genre of music they create, but to me, it feels like a consciously electronic darkwave that is ‘in recovery’ (probably).

So, here is the new full-length “A New Reign” album by the White Birches, c’mon!!!

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