Nick Cave with Wild God: A powerful comeback full of emotions

Nick Cave with Wild God: A powerful comeback full of emotions

Berlin (dpa) - Nick Cave is back and with his new album “Wild God” presents an exciting musical journey that is finally available for fans after a long waiting time of five years. In recent years, the Australian musician, and front man of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, has shaped personal tragedies, which were reflected in his previous works. After the loss of his sons Arthur and Jethro, “Wild God” is a promising sign of a new beginning.

with "Wild God" brought Cave back more than just the familiar melancholic sound of his previous albums - he brought back the beat, which in his own words means: "It slams out of the speakers, and I am being torn away." This is already evident in the first single release and the title song, which deals with the complexity of life and the universal struggles of humanity.

an album full of emotions

The album consists of ten powerful songs, a number that traditionally stands for perfection and impresses with its biblical associations. Work on “Wild God” began on New Year's Day 2023, which gives the entire album a fresh start. The first song, “Song of the Lake”, opens the record with a calm but intensive atmosphere in which water appears as a central element. A woman swims in the lake while a man is watching and realizing that he is closer to heaven, even if hell seems to burden him.

cave often reflects on water and its healing effect in his texts. In his personal experiences, he shares that cold water swimming becomes a form of grief coping for him. On his website "The Red Hand Files", he explains that swimming in ice -cold water helped him to relieve his grief over the loss of his sons because it is impossible to mourn in such cold water. This knowledge has created an energetic and meaningful relationship with his music.

The return of joie de vivre

in «Wild God» we encounter a protagonist who desperately searches for what he has lost. Cave describes the figure as someone who is in a state of need and needs a deep belief in people around them. The mighty sound, combined with Caves haunting voice, reflects a story that is both sad and hopeful. The second song, "Frogs", describes a couple who wanders in the rain, while church bells ring in the background. The frogs that they observe symbolize humanity, which constantly fluctuates between love and pain.

The song “O WoW O WoW (How Wonderful She IS)”, which is a tribute to the late Anita Lane, is particularly touching a former band colleague and Caves ex-partner. The texts are crossed by mysterious, fantastic elements, while they at the same time convey painful declarations of love and dark insights into life. In “As the Waters Cover the Sea”, reflection is addressed in inner peace, a moment that is important today.

Nick Cave is an artist who shows new facets of his skills with his unique mix of rocking sounds, spoken poems and at the same time experimental sounds. Despite the severe content of his texts and the grief that resonates in them, the central thought remains that Cave ultimately also enjoys life. "I don't think you can leave such an experience behind, but my children wanted me to be happy about my life," he said, showing that "Wild God" is not just an album, but a moving explanation of life, loss and hope. It is a return to the roots of life that Nick Cave celebrates through his music.