Random HTDA thoughts

[implanted_microchip]

The self-titled EP is absolutely fantastic. I've seen a lot of people call it weak or complain about it in various places over the years, but damn, it's by far the most-listened HTDA release for me. Fur-Lined, Parasite, A Drowning are all absolutely incredible. It's short enough that every single song delivers without it feeling too long. The way that the vocals are recessed on so many songs, drowned out by the noise and sound is great and adds a really great texture to it.

Oh, and Speaking In Tongues should've been on Welcome Oblivion.

[WorzelG]

Oh, and Speaking In Tongues should've been on Welcome Oblivion.

Just been listening to that, I bloody love it. Did they ever play it live? I'm thinking not

[implanted_microchip]

Just been listening to that, I bloody love it. Did they ever play it live? I'm thinking not

I'm pretty sure they didn't, unfortunately. I've really hoped that someday there'd be a full-on US tour for HTDA, and hopefully they'd get to do a lot more, although I know if that ever did happen they'd be on a new album, with even more material competing for a slot in the setlist, so I doubt it'll happen at this point.

That rhythmic chanting at the end is just so incredible, the vocal harmony on the line "I am the end of it alllllllll" was one of the first times where I really felt like HTDA was a totally worthy and unique thing, not just a side project to me.

Not to mention it's one of the several songs that lyrically deals with spiritual/religious imagery and destruction (The Believers, And the Sky Began to Scream, etc.), and does it fabulously. It's always reminded me a whole lot of YZ, with "all my arms will stretch across the sky, and you will see the glory of it all" and "this is the place, this is the time, I am the end of it all" sounding so much like The Presence. I know that's probably unintentional, but it's something else to see the sort of ghosts of YZ's story pop up in different things from Trent ever since (Letting You, Satellite, etc.).

Oh and while I'm on more random thoughts and relating stuff to Year Zero, BBB always sounded like those lyrics could've been on YZ 2 had that been a thing. It has that whole "authority dominating the majority" aspect: "Get down, on the ground, Don't move, make a sound," "Listen to the sound of my big black boots." Always gives me flashes of the Survivalism video.

A lot of fans seem to totally rule out the possibility that anything is connected to YZ outside of YZ, but consciously or not I've always gotten the impression that there are a whole lot of nods and references to it ever since, and HTDA doesn't seem immune to it. I've really liked the thought of them continuing that universe through HTDA, it would be the first time I can think of where a concept album's universe went beyond one band and into another and would really magnify that scope and scale of the project that the ARG added to it.

[screwdriver]

I'm pretty sure they didn't, unfortunately. I've really hoped that someday there'd be a full-on US tour for HTDA, and hopefully they'd get to do a lot more, although I know if that ever did happen they'd be on a new album, with even more material competing for a slot in the setlist, so I doubt it'll happen at this point.

That rhythmic chanting at the end is just so incredible, the vocal harmony on the line "I am the end of it alllllllll" was one of the first times where I really felt like HTDA was a totally worthy and unique thing, not just a side project to me.

Not to mention it's one of the several songs that lyrically deals with spiritual/religious imagery and destruction (The Believers, And the Sky Began to Scream, etc.), and does it fabulously. It's always reminded me a whole lot of YZ, with "all my arms will stretch across the sky, and you will see the glory of it all" and "this is the place, this is the time, I am the end of it all" sounding so much like The Presence. I know that's probably unintentional, but it's something else to see the sort of ghosts of YZ's story pop up in different things from Trent ever since (Letting You, Satellite, etc.).

Oh and while I'm on more random thoughts and relating stuff to Year Zero, BBB always sounded like those lyrics could've been on YZ 2 had that been a thing. It has that whole "authority dominating the majority" aspect: "Get down, on the ground, Don't move, make a sound," "Listen to the sound of my big black boots." Always gives me flashes of the Survivalism video.

A lot of fans seem to totally rule out the possibility that anything is connected to YZ outside of YZ, but consciously or not I've always gotten the impression that there are a whole lot of nods and references to it ever since, and HTDA doesn't seem immune to it. I've really liked the thought of them continuing that universe through HTDA, it would be the first time I can think of where a concept album's universe went beyond one band and into another and would really magnify that scope and scale of the project that the ARG added to it.

its cool that you're enjoying it, but it's not connected

[otnavuskire]

its cool that you're enjoying it, but it's not connected

https://twitter.com/rob_sheridan/sta...51592749465600

[implanted_microchip]

https://twitter.com/rob_sheridan/sta...51592749465600

Oh wow, thanks for that! I'd always thought I was just wrong or that it was unintentional, it's great to know there is some sort of intent behind it.

[screwdriver]

https://twitter.com/rob_sheridan/sta...51592749465600

I stand corrected, but I think it's just kind of thematic and not "universe" based. Like, I think HM is conceptually related to TDS