What does GGGOLDDD sound like?

Taut, apocalyptic and cataclysmic post-metal with electric elements.

The review of GGGOLDDD – PTSD

GGGOLDDD has never shied away from talking about trauma or its effects and with ‘PTSD’, we get a tightly woven EP as if to close a chapter. Milena Eva explains she was diagnosed with PTSD two years ago. Through intensive therapy, she’s been revisiting old memories and having breakthrough moments. To keep her energised Gggolddd worked on new music and also looked back on older tracks to revisit them. As if the therapy was helping heal old wounds, the songs were also being rediscovered.

‘PTSD’ is a mixture of new music and reworked older tracks in the PTSD style. By that, I mean that there is a more gothic electronica edge to the heavy guitar doom. The percussion is also more industrial too. On new track ‘It’s Over’, we have dualling vocoder vocals over marching electric metal pan smashes and catchy keyboard motifs. It still sounds like GGGOLDDD but the balance of doomish metal and dark gothtronica has shifted more towards the latter. This is really apparent with ‘Silence’. The other new track has a nightmare-inducing bassline that Gazelle Twin would be proud of. The track gives a hunted and dread-inducing bloom of emotion as the drums aggressively pound slowly around the bassline. It is fantastic.

“His Is Not’ and ‘Old Habits’ get PTSD versions and both sound excellent in their new form. GGGOLDDD have said this is where their sound is going for the next release. On this evidence, the next LP will be in good hands. The synth work on both is more complex and layered but still impactful. The EP then ends with ‘I Let My Hair Grow’ which bridges the gap between the two worlds, whilst sounding nothing like them. The vocal arrangement here is superb as various backing cries and chants make up a collage of notes to frame drums, bass and keys over. It sounds symphonic without any strings involved and so grand with every beat. I feel like a vampire taking to the ballroom for a dance.

Different but still totally GGGOLDDD and golden. ‘PTSD’ marks a shift in sound but not in passion, energy, dynamism and emotionally charged performances. I hope that Milena was able to close some chapters by reworking these songs into new forms. They sound excellent and the future looks enticing and exciting for a gothic industrial metal banger of an album to come.

Recommended track: I Let My Hair Grow

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