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 features

Golden Shitters

One Question Interviews • June 25, 2025

Related news

Cold Gawd sends "Golden Postcard"

Posted in Bands on July 22, 2025

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

Recently-posted album reviews

Between the Buried and Me

The Blue Nowhere
Inside Out (2025)

Between The Buried And Me are seasoned vets to the progressive metalcore, electronic, prog (whatever other genre they bend) scene and continue to drop album after album. Their career started back in 2000 from the ashes of one of the greatest metalcore bands of all time (in my humble opinion), Prayer For Cleansing. As the band has progressed over the … Read more

The Beths

Straight Line Was A Lie
Anti (2025)

Dear Beths, Congratulations on the new release. I’ve been reflecting on our relationship and, as I’ve recently started to write about music again, have been asked to share my thoughts with you. First and foremost, I want to say that this isn’t easy for me. I cherish your album Future Me Hates Me from 2018. The title track alone is … Read more

East End Redemption

Crashing Down
Independent (2025)

Who would’ve thought that from the land of lobsters and blueberries, you’d find a punk band? East End Redemption is a four-piece band that brings their flavor of punk from Portland, Maine to the masses with their eleven song, debut full-length album, Crashing Down. They mix elements of skate punk, power pop, and even hints of hardcore punk. The band … Read more