`The World Is Dying` is British progressive metal guitarist/vocalist Grace Hayhurst`s debut album. The inspiration behind the album is according to the artist that “I truly do believe that the world is dying, and that there isn’t much we can do about it – even if a revolution were to occur. Humanity is doomed one way or another, due to climate change, or the selfish actions of oligarchs. Or maybe a super-volcano will reactivate, covering our atmosphere in ash, making planet earth uninhabitable. Maybe I should go back to therapy…”
The album open with `Prologue` a brief instrumental which has a countdown at the end which maybe a metaphor for the coming of the end of time. The title track `The World Is Dying` has piano keys and vocals that have a deep resonance. The song takes us on a dreamy musical journey with bass and guitar before upping tempo and becoming much more robust with swirling synths and pounding drums. It meanders in and out with lyrics that portray frustration and paint a pretty grim outlook for our planet.
`And It`s Our Fault` is more illusory initially before becoming quite rhythmic as it evolves and develops. A plea for environmental change. The midsection is fairly reflective with a quite absorbed soundscape which leads us out of the track. There`s a real edginess and irregular beat to `Us Vs Them` which seems to mirror the frustration of the artist towards a lack of empathy to our worlds plight.
`Our Forest, The Earth` appears to be a contemplation of deforestation, a worrying trend as Forests are vital for the planet and its inhabitants, providing crucial environmental, economic, and cultural benefits. They regulate climate, purify air and water, support biodiversity, and offer resources for human livelihoods. It`s fairly heavy musically with a guitar and piano solo during its lifespan. We have a kind of full on ness to `Take Off` which maybe an analysis of the exploitation of natural resources for financial gain.
`Revolution` takes us on a lengthy voyage of sorts with sections that are fairly progressive then jazz like and almost psychedelic with lyrics that almost veer towards an encouragement of insurrection or uprising. We have an almost calm after the storm in `Armistice` a fairly serene acoustic offering.
`Absent Futures` is a final reflection on where we are possibly headed, a gentle but questioning contemplation.
Saving our planet is a faultless noble aspiration and objective and seems to be gaining more traction thankfully with our younger generation. An ideal we all should aim for and shared here with some quite compelling progressive metal soundscapes which is much more preferable that the intent being preached.
Rating 8/10
