Shenandoah Valley is a picturesque and inviting area of Virginia in the United States of America. Bound by mountains to the east and west and rivers to the north and south, Shenandoah encompasses part of the Appalachian Trail, waterfalls, panoramic vistas and protected wilderness. Emerging from this pleasant and scenic part of the world and setting out to prove that location is no protection from the ravages of poor mental health or addiction, is recently formed alternative rock band Sever Red.
Gone, their third single – which will form part of their upcoming EP Sick and Tormented – is a brutally introspective, disturbing and uncensored take on events from frontman’s Kevin Riner’s life. “To me, Gone is a long hard look in the mirror. It brings to light the self-destructive nature of substance abuse and torment encapsulated by my own addictions.” Throughout the track, he expresses a deep sense of longing and despair, as the lyrics continually convey the feeling of being lost and broken. Equally, Riner is ferociously honest, acknowledging the lies of which addicts convince themselves. How I long for better days / I just want to feel something / My perfect vision’s gone astray / I say, just one more time.
Gone opens with tender, plaintive and wistful guitar reminiscent of Nirvana at their most reflective; however, the song is structured to build layer upon layer of aggression and anguish. Drummer Stefen Burns and bassist Stephen Mauk, prove a remarkably effective rhythm duo, as music and lyrics combine forcefully to convey the haunting essence which pervades Gone. I lost myself along the way / My will is broken / Suffocated by the times I have failed / I always fail / I never know what to do. Whether you have experienced the emotional turmoil examined throughout the track or not, the rawness and authenticity of the delivery makes it relatable and touching.
Unsurprisingly (as it is handled by Josh Schroeder – who has worked with Lorna Shore, Ov Sulfur, Atilla and Varials to name just a few bands), the production and mixing is of exceptionally high quality with fantastic balance and clarity. Crunching, muscular guitars (dexterously handled by Josiah Wilder and Tyler McKinney) sit perfectly in the overall sound of the band, providing the necessary menace to the song but without ever threatening to overshadow the vocals. There is a great sense of unity amongst the musicians and working with a producer such as Schroeder means the powerful instrumentation matches the energy of Riner’s performance.
As Riner’s mind reaches breaking point, the band step up the intensity even further and it does not loosen for the rest of the song. And my fucking mind has gone / I’m so forlorn / I’ll never be the same / And I feel so abused / Your clever ruse / Has shackled me again. Even in the brief moments of relief from the agony he is suffering, the mind of the addict never lets go and ominous feelings threaten to overwhelm him. The darkest thoughts consume my mind / The crows still there watching all the time. Gone ends with bludgeoning riffs, intense drumming and reverberating bass, leaving the mind of our protagonist in unending instability.
Having only taken shape in the Spring of 2023, Sever Red have already attracted a few thousand followers. Ardently passionate, Sever Red’s commitment to weaving their traumatic but cathartic stories, led by Riner’s commanding vocals are sure to attract more. Gone and the upcoming EP will appeal to fans of bands such as Staind, Seether and Crossfade but also more widely amongst hard rock fans.
Written: 10th December 2023
Gone is out now - watch the visualiser video below.
EP Sick and Tormented is released on 26th January 2024.