Silas J. Dirge
Swan Songs

dark country / death country / gothic-americana / gothic country / post-folk / southern gothic / country folk / dark folk / outlaw / roots / western / neofolk / alt-country / americana / acoustic

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.

This album features MorganEve Swain (Brown Bird, The Devil Makes Three, The Huntress And Holder Of Hands), Matt Slobogan (The Low Cards), Harald de Ruiter (Delta Echoes, Kleazer), Justin Zandbergen (Bek Vol Zand) and Jaap Roo (ROO).

- Justin Stover, Devil's Music