Review
Gold
Optimist

Van Records (2017) Spyros Stasis

Gold – Optimist cover artwork
Gold – Optimist — Van Records, 2017

GOLD is the brainchild of Thomas Sciarone, known from his work with occult doom act The Devil's Blood. Having released two very good albums so far, in Interbellum and No Image, they are now carrying down on the same dark path with Optimist. GOLD is a notoriously difficult band to pinpoint sonically. Sure, they exist within a rock setting, but since the beginning their influences have been so diverse and at the same time so well integrated into each other, it is nearly impossible to accurately describe what they are doing. 

The band defines itself as “post-everything dark rock.” It is the “dark” part of this description that is the most apparent, and the one that resonates the most in their music. Their work throughout the years featured that characteristic, but it feels further augmented with Optimist, a title which becomes slightly sardonic after the first three, four minutes of the album. Without necessarily leaning towards goth rock, GOLD crafts a sorrowful setting, with graphic surroundings, coming through wonderfully in tracks like “No Shadow” and the closer “Tear.” It is within this scenery that Milena Eva's vocals find the perfect balance. Acting as a constant force, without becoming overwhelming, they are enhancing this darker dimension of GOLD, by shining a dim light over it. 

When it comes to the “post” mentality of the band, there is a more pronounced presentation of the post-punk and new wave aesthetic. The bass lines of tracks like “You Too Must Die” and “No Shadow” speak of that era, with their steady progression and energy setting a strong tone. The punk roots are also highlighted, traveling towards the core, bringing a more aggressive and urgent perspective, as well as the off-kilter sound of Sonic Youth in “I Do My Own Stunts.” The tempering of such qualities is minimal for GOLD, who simply encapsulate the no wave aesthetically sporadically, either with ambient leanings in “Teenage Lust” or a noise rock injection in “Summer Thunder.” As slight as the additions might be, they boost the record as a whole, and they also display the allure of that sound and era in GOLD's concepts. 

But at the core of it all, the one aspect of Optimist that really sticks out is its melodic tendency. The guitar leads and phrases are the driving forces behind the momentum this album builds. The experimental scope of GOLD allows for further mutations, attaining elements of doom to blackened recitals of epic grandeur in “White Noise” or depressive rock form of the opening track, but the main focus is always on retaining the memorability of the hooks. This is the telling quality of GOLD, and it is where Optimist thrives.

Gold – Optimist cover artwork
Gold – Optimist — Van Records, 2017

Related news

A Goldstar from Imperial Triumphant

Posted in Records on January 18, 2025

Si Dios Quiere with "Fool's Gold"

Posted in Bands on August 30, 2024

Free Help from Heart To Gold

Posted in Records on August 4, 2024

Recently-posted album reviews

Errth

Errth
Uncle Style Records (2025)

What makes a gruff vocal melodic punk band stand out? That's the question I'm asking myself as I listen to Errth's debut on repeat. I've been playing this record for probably a month straight and I dig it. It checks the heart-on-sleeve style I enjoy but I'm struggling to figure out why, exactly. I think on this, it's the tones … Read more

1186

Histeria
Drunken Sailor (2025)

If you read enough press releases, you start questioning if you even know what genre names mean. Post-punk has been one of the most abused terms of the past 2-3 years and it seems to mean wildly different things to different people. To me, it’s always meant an ear for angular guitars and noise atop more traditional song concepts. 1186 … Read more

Li Jianhong

Shuttle Raven of the Dream
Utech (2025)

Li Jianhong's philosophy surpasses the direct relationship of a musician with their instrument of choice. Instead, Li has advocated for Environment Improvisation, where the urge to create and improvise is established by the artist's surroundings. Looking at Li's website you can find numerous instances that inspired him to settle down and start improvising, drawing energy from the surroundings. The music … Read more