Hello music fans and lovely readers thank you for reading our blog today. Washington’s own Erik Hansen breaks ventures forth from his band Fallen Angels as a solo act on his debut EP Seasons of the Wind, released on 8th March
Informed by the thrashy guitar Hansen discovered as a child through the likes of Nirvana and The Offspring, as well as the 70s and 80s influences like AC/DC, Deep Purple, and Metallica that found him later in life, Seasons of the Wind is an unapologetic rock EP through and through.
At 5 tracks long, Seasons of the Wind is the world’s introduction to Erik Hansen as a solo artist, and it is easy to hear the musician’s rich legacy running throughout. Let’s talk more about it shall we
The Road” serves as the EP’s introduction. The song opens with an intense energy that will chill you to the bone. In the song, the speaker assures the person he’s speaking to that he’s watching out for them (saying, “I’m looking out for you”) as they navigate the ups and downs of life. The song is a standard rock tune that features an incredible electric guitar solo. The song does a superb job of introducing listeners to this musical gem and easing them into the musical trip that lies ahead!
Another song with a rock influence is “Send Me a Sign.” It’s the trashy soundtrack to all the last-minute tasks you’ve finished five minutes before work closes, all the people who have cut you off, and all the stupid things you’ve ever been asked. Green Day and The Offspring combine modern production with 90s punk inspiration to create a frenetic song that feels eerily timeless, guys! This song has some AMAZING guitar parts. They keep the song cohesive, and the vocal performance is strong and raspy, with just the right amount of anger.
The EP’s next track is “Horizon.” The song marks a shift in the album’s tone; it’s a country folk tune that discusses life and features a persona that is thoughtfully considering it. The acoustic guitar parts accentuate the song’s meaning, which is reflective. It’s not often to hear an electric and acoustic guitar combination in one song; usually, it’s one or the other. However, this song did a fantastic job of balancing the two tones without coming across as overly dramatic.
Before the guitar parts are presented, “Traveler” opens with an extremely thrilling drumline. In the song, there is a character who begs his sweetheart to accompany him on a romantic excursion and to embrace him (“wrap me in your open arms”). The charming love narrative told in the song is further enhanced by the impassioned vocal performance. The song is a fast-paced, intense piece of music with amazing guitar parts that take you to a different realm!
The lovely “Forever Dream” serves as the EP’s epilogue. The narrative revolves around the character expressing his sweetheart and how much she means to him and how they should meet again in the hereafter (“In the end, I’ll meet you there and we can sleep and forever dream”), and the steel guitar sounds are amazing. He firmly believes that their close relationship will endure for eternity. John’s guitar performance is flawless, and the song has a lot of energy and intensity. This song is the ideal way to cap off a fantastic EP and gives you a buzz of excitement long after the EP has concluded.
Ultimately motivated by the trashy guitar he originally heard as a child in the music of bands like Nirvana and The Offspring, as well as by the influences of AC/DC, Deep Purple, and Metallica in the 1970s and 1980s, Seasons of the Wind is an unabashed rock EP.
Erik’s EP is a rock record, but it also has elements of folk and poetry, making it a well-rounded listen that will please listeners of all genres. This EP is a great example of how Erik is truly developing as an artist.
Stream “Seasons of the Wind” EP on Spotify
Follow Erik Hansen here and on their socials; Instagram, Twitter, YouTube
