Alex Henry Foster on a mesmerising and essential live set. A ritual indeed.
Release Date: 16th May 2025
Label: Bandcamp Hopeful Tragedy Records
Format: LP / CD / digital
A Nightfall Ritual is a perfect title. An evening with the music of Alex Henry Foster (& The Long Shadows) is akin to a spiritual event. The current live souvenir may be only four songs but each is an epic and probably worth the admission price on their own. An essential picture of the marvel of the Foster/Shadows live experience.
the spine tingles
The industrial foghorn opening of Up Til Dawn creates a genuine spine tingle as the band hove into sight. The epitome of how to create an atmosphere. Bizarrely, the hook of “oh what an atmosphere!” from UK Eurovision novelty band Black Lace (remember Agadoo…!?) comes to mind. This is far from novelty though as we find Alex conducting proceedings with the unwavering hellfire damnation of a preacher, bathed in flames, exhorting to a devoted flock. Dominance and submission comes in a series of ethnic vocal incantations, whoops and hollers before Alex makes his mark as he rages forth on the concept of time and age.
“There is no youth
There is no old
There’s not even color
Not even darkness
To kneel down and pray for“
Stunning, and topped with a typically frenzied finale. No surprise that having held the reins for ten minutes, there needs the wind rushing through the hair. The richness of the instrumental prowess of the Long Shadows overloads into a huge wall of sound.
the frenzy continues
It’s a frenzy that continues into I’m Afraid. The overwhelming sense of paranoia and panic is apparent with both a siren effect and a pumping bassline leading an unrelenting barrage and rush of lyrics that challenge the soundtrack. Alex rants with a passion on an endless series of fears almost compulsively until the calming thought of “There’s nothing left to fear.” Think Lennon on God. On acid.
The Son Of Hannah is the calm after the storm. Briefly, with the obsessive repeated incantation of “Hannah why do you weep” inevitably building into a blast of intensity. From the lull to almost one of Alex Henry Foster’s signature tunes. The Pain That Bonds is totally apt in the circumstances. A fifteen minute plus reflection that’s dense and brooding that flits between devils and angels, time (again) and prayers.
Alex belts out his sermon alongside a heartbeat pulse. “But static is the noise,” he yells as if awakening from a dream as we head into another passage that veers between hypnotic lullaby swing and overpowering intensity. The merging of thrash and melody that brings the finale is both staggering and exhausting.
Biblical and life affirming. A magnetic and hypnotic set. Cathartic to the extreme. An outpouring. From a musician who’s stared down the barrel, a celebration of why we’re here.
Here’s The Son Of Hannah:
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