Between the Richness hits with urgency. There’s the typical energy of hardcore but it’s filtered through the melodic shine of ‘90s alternative and heart-on-sleeve intensity of mid-80’s emo. The guitars are massive, the drums hit like they’re sprinting for their life, and Patrick Flynn’s vocals feel like they’re hanging by a thread. It sounds like the band is trying to outrun some deep trauma nipping at their heels every step of the way.
As with some of my favorite records in this genre, Fiddlehead certainly dances around with the concept of romanticizing grief and depression. But it does something important with those concepts, showing how a sense of loss can reshape you and linger around in everyday moments. The constant of constant reminders in other words. There’s a real honesty in the way Between the Richness explores that sense of sadness without getting lost and succumbing to their overbearing weight. The overall message I took away was that facing grief head-on doesn’t have to trap you. That process can free you as well.
Standout Songs: “The Years”, “Million Times”, “Loverman”, “Heart to Heart”
