MUSIC

Swan Songs

For years, country artist Silas J. Dirge has crafted his own musical landscape by exploring the darker corners of reality. That landscape continues to be explored on his album Swan Songs. And though the album's title refers to the farewell at a final performance, the songs are proof that Dirge is in no hurry to stop.

From the fairy-tale like romanticism of "The Saddest Girl" to the bleak lament "I Drink to Forget," Silas continues to peer into the the darkness and sorrow of the ever-changing world. However, unlike his profoundly sad earlier work, Swan Songs manages to find light even in the darkest places. This is especially clear on the heartbreaking yet beautiful track "Under the Old Oak Tree."

Though the album does focus a great deal on death, it also expresses the human need to find meaning in the shadows and the dirt of the everyday. The result is Silas' most mature collection of "dirges" yet.

Finally, for an artist known for weaving tall tales and stories, he goes more personal with the standout track "Running From Myself." Here, listeners take a step away from the mythos Silas has built and instead take a small peak into the man himself, sharing in some of his most vulnerable lyrics to date.

The album features MorganEve Swain (Brown Bird, The Devil Makes Three, The Huntress And Holder Of Hands) on backing vocals, double bass, and fiddle, Matt Slobogan (The Low Cards) on drums and percussion, Harald de Ruiter (Delta Echoes, Kleazer) on electric guitar, Justin Zandbergen (Bek Vol Zand) on backing vocals, and Jaap Roo (ROO) on piano.

- Justin Stover, Devil's Music

The Poor Devil

Following the acclaim of his dark debut album Tales of Woe, Netherlands-based artist Silas J. Dirge explores new territory with his sophomore release The Poor Devil. And though the shadow and spookiness of Tales... haunts the background, Silas' latest album finds its footing deep in the waters of American country music.

These ten new compositions take a more sparse, raw direction, harkening to Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and other outlaw heroes he's listened to since he was young. As Silas says, "It was a natural evolution. I've always been into country music. I've listened since I was a kid... so it's deep rooted in me. I've always wanted to make a country record."

This direction dovetailed with the lyrics and stories of The Poor Devil as well. As he explains, "I had new stories that aren't as dark as Tales of Woe. I wanted the music to match that." Tracks like the opener "Hang Me High" and the gritty "Flowers on Her Grave", with their raw-and-rollicking acoustic strums, would fit perfectly on the score of any classic Western film. This is country music at its finest.

Yet fans of Silas J. Dirge will find plenty of the rich musical layers on The Poor Devil they've come to expect. The Spaghetti-western guitar licks and atmospheric nuances ever-present on his debut are on this record as well. And his knack for macabre tales and characters still find their way onto it. The standout tune "Hear its Roar (When It's Black)" is a perfect example of this musical and lyrical concoction that Silas has become known for.

So as the much anticipated New Year unfolds, be sure to start it off right with this much anticipated album from a truly fascinating singer-songwriter.

- Justin Stover, Devil's Music

Tales of Woe

Tales of Woe is Silas J. Dirge's debut album. This gothic country album takes you on a journey through a dark and disturbing world where nothing is what it seems and even Death himself has no clue what is going on.