Death is Nothing to Us

A post-hardcore supergroup with a muscular attack and emo leanings, Fiddlehead is staffed by former members of Massachusetts punk band Have Heart, the Boston-based group recorded what they assumed would likely be a one-off project in 2018's cathartic Springtime and Blind LP. Somewhat surprised by the enthusiastic response from fans, Fiddlehead decided to carry on and recorded two more albums, 2021's thrilling Between the Richness, and 2023's philosophical Death Is Nothing to Us.

Following the dissolution of his previous band, Have Heart, singer Patrick Flynn began writing songs with his roommate, guitarist Alex Dow. Former Basement guitarist Alex Henery soon came aboard, as did bassist Casey Nealon and Flynn's former bandmate Shawn Costa on drums. Writing in a post-hardcore style reminiscent of '80s emo, Fiddlehead debuted on the small Lockin Out label with the 2014 EP Out of the Bloom. Four years passed before the group reconvened to make a full-length. Wracked with grief over his father's recent death, Flynn poured his soul into the set of songs that became 2018's Springtime and Blind album. Released by Run for Cover, the record did surprisingly well given the band's modest expectations and they earned a significant following. A 7" single, "Get My Mind Right" b/w "Stay in the Room," followed in 2019 as Fiddlehead began to write material for a follow-up. Mining similar emotions and dynamics, they returned in 2021 with the anthemic Between the Richness, again on Run for Cover.

The band quickly went to work on their next set, resuming their collaboration with producer Chris Teti on a collection of songs that philosophically examined weighty themes of tragedy and mortality, but also joy. With lyrical allusions to everyone from Lucretius and Jean Améry to Bad Brains, 2023's Death Is Nothing to Us zeroed in on the humanity of Fiddlehead's sound while retaining its sonic wallop. ~ Timothy Monger