Genre : Avant-garde, Industrial electronic, Coldwave, Post-metal
Released : October 13th, 2023
Label : Artoffact Records
FFO : Playgrounded, Chelsea Wolfe, Emma Ruth Rundle, Cult Of Luna, Whispering Sons
Recovery from trauma is a long and sinuous road.
While the use of words such as "recovery" and "healing" may make it sound on paper as though the darkness has been vanquished and the chapter closed, the reality is much more nuanced and difficult than this.
"PTSD" succeeds in conveying this idea ; reflecting on the aftermath of GGGOLDDD's confrontation of trauma with last year's "This Shame Should Not Be Mine" while also managing to move forwards from the wreckage and rebuild strength as last year's album closer "Beat By Beat" had hinted at.
Musically, "PTSD" is a continuation of GGGOLDDD's newfound industrial electronics-driven identity which suits them like a glove. Although here, the electronic arrangements don't feel as cold and hostile as they were on "This Shame Should Not Be Mine", but instead coalesce with the organic elements of the instrumentation more seemlessly, mirroring the conceptual shift in intention behind the two releases with "PTSD" focusing more on regrowth instead of confrontation.
GGGOLDDD's musical metamorphosis is further highlighted by the fact that two out of the five EP's tracks are re-imagined versions of older songs, reworked into sounding more akin to their new industrial style.
These include a slower-paced, haunting version of "He Is Not" (which is by far my personal favourite) and an energized, subtler version of the mantra-like "Old Habits".
From opener "It's Over" confidently leading the way forwards through the forlorn devastation of post-trauma, brought to life by Førtifem's stunning cover artwork, up until the EP's beautiful closer "I Let My Hair Grow" which cements this idea of letting loose from trauma's many burdens ; "PTSD" feels like a necessary and natural step for GGGOLDDD both musically and thematically following the happenings of "This Shame Should Not Be Mine" last year.