Having weathered two decades, THE OLD DEAD TREE are still at the roots of dark progressive metal. Last year, the French band returned to much fanfare with "Second Thoughts," their first full-length since 2007. Now, they're back with a new EP that was recorded live at legendary Abbey Road Studios. THE OLD DEAD TREE are releasing the EP's first advanced single. "Feel Alive Again" is a new song that's cut for the stage, leaning into stadium rock while staying grounded in the band's dark progressive foundation.

The EP has four songs, and "Feel Alive Again" is first. It's Gothic, especially in terms of the solemn tones and a baritone voiced singer. The soundscape is fairly heavy, and dark, as you might expect, and the chorus is catchy. "Time Has Come" is another song that drips with melancholy tones, but the hardened riff that follow has punch, and energy. Again, the big sound is in the chorus, and shouted vocals give the melody something to but up against. "By the Way" has another tentative and solemn opening. It's smooth, emotional, and mood-settling. It hits a crescendo at the first chorus, and the sound opens like a flower in spring. The key change also hits.

"What Else Could We've Said" is the final song on the EP. The singing is poignant, and the gentle guitars create more melancholy feelings. Strings add to this. Manuel begins to climb into the upper ranges of his voice, and when he peaks, the weight of the emotion is vital. It's somewhat difficult to get a vibe from an album through just four songs, but the emotions of the music hit me the most. For me, it was like Modern Metal with Goth leanings more than anything else, but genre labels be damned. There is just something special about French musicians, and this is a band you need to keep your eye on.