New Old Horse by Twine

With all the grace of traditional country and all the angst of post hardcore, New Old Horse by Twine presents the perfect genre fusion to bolster lyrical sentiments of stagnation, decay, and melancholy. A foundation of noisy old-school post hardcore gives the album its shape, supplying ample guitar feedback, challenging distorted harmonies, wall-of-sound production, and intense vocal delivery. Introspective, self-consciously melodramatic lyrics and a wide dynamic spread anchored by low sections of twinkly guitar also introduce hints of midwest emo aesthetics, beginning the work of pulling the album’s sound towards a warm heartland aesthetic. Atop all this, stunning fiddle leads bring a shockingly natural country twang to the record, invoking a roots ethos to recontextualize the lyrical storytelling and song structures. In total, New Old Horse presents a deep yet accessible picture of a frustrated artist despairing at the countless hours wasted on the least creative outlets imaginable, desperately flinging themselves through your speakers for just one sign that these sacrifices weren’t made entirely in vain.