New Idea Society – Fire On The Hill

Relapse Records

It’s fitting that a band called New Idea Society is partially led by Stephen Brodsky, one of heavy music’s most creative minds of the last three decades. Known primarily for his work in the foundational progressive metalcore band Cave In, Brodsky is also credited to a wealth of solo albums and side projects from stoner punk supergroup Mutoid Man to one-off bands like Kid Kilowatt and Pet Genius. Despite the chaotic and technical nature of his metal bands, Brodsky is, at his core, a singer-songwriter with several tender acoustic albums under his belt. You can trace this strain of his sound all the way back to Expose Your Overdubs in 1999, but his latest laid-back outing, Fire On The Hill, is a compact and colorful rebirth of New Idea Society. 

The project’s fourth album, and first since 2010, continues the partnership of Brodsky and fellow Bostonian hardcore veteran and songwriter Mike Law of Eulcid and Wild Arrows, with the duo trading nine songs of spacey acoustic alternative back and forth. Brodsky’s voice is instantly recognizable, kicking off the LP with “Sharing Arrows” in a familiar tone yet one that’s musically unique to this project. Law takes the lead on the next few tracks, with “Lantern” being a highlight thanks to its propulsive riff and flourishes of other acoustic instruments, such as mandolin and slide guitar. Brodsky returns with “Dancing Horse,” the album’s first single and a perfect example of compelling lyrics. I can’t explain why I get emotional when I hear about the dancing horse on his roof, but the way he and Law sell it is undeniable.

“When Morning Comes Around” is another heavy Law track, as heavy as this type of music can get anyway. The layered guitars juxtapose the soft composition in a very cool way, reminiscent of other acoustic, metal-adjacent projects like Wovenhand and Aerial Ruin. The low-tuned guitars on “High And Blue” give the track deep roots to grow out from, sprouting into a refrain that reflects it perfectly: “It’s so beautiful, I let it pull me in.” “Ladybug Lay” closes the album and feels like New Idea Society’s version of a children’s song, but not in an immature or juvenile way; purely in a peaceful, easy feeling that results in a guilt-free adult lullaby.

Fire On The Hill is another worthy notch in Stephen Brodsky and Mike Law’s expansive discographies, showcasing the songwriting versatility of both men that even fans of their heaviest music could get into. This is a perfect record to be released in our final month of spring, a soundtrack for the last days of fresh air uninhibited by humidity, and an introspective musical meditation we all might need in these times.