Winter EP by Failure Parade: A Dark, Haunting Journey Through Snow and Shadows
Man, Winter EP by Failure Parade is one of those albums that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Released back in 2016 under Blank Face Records, this thing hits hard for such a short collection of songs. It’s tagged as Folk, World, & Country mixed with Rock—but honestly? This ain’t your grandma’s campfire singalong. Nope. With its goth rock vibes and Tayler Forss’ haunting vocals paired against the acoustic guitar (also him—what a dude), it feels more like walking alone through an icy forest at night. You know what I mean?
The two tracks that really stuck with me were “Fields Of Ice” and “Without Her Here.” Let’s talk about “Fields Of Ice” first because wow—it’s cold. Not just because of the title either. The way Tayler’s voice cracks over these sparse chords gives me chills every damn time. Like, imagine standing in a frozen field where the wind cuts right through you, but instead of running inside to warm up, you stay there, letting it all sink in. That’s this song. It builds slowly, layering tension until you’re practically holding your breath waiting for something big to happen… but then it doesn’t. And somehow, that makes it even better. It leaves you hanging, just like winter does.
Then there’s “Without Her Here,” which punches you in the gut from the start. There’s no buildup here—just raw emotion pouring out of every line. Tayler sings like he’s got decades of regret stuffed into his chest, and the guitar work mirrors that ache perfectly. Every strum feels deliberate, almost painful. When he repeats certain lines, it’s not annoying—it’s obsessive, like he can’t let go of whatever ghost he’s chasing. By the end, I’m not sure if I want to cry or scream. Maybe both.
Honestly, this album shouldn’t work. Mixing folk-y acoustic stuff with goth rock sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? But somehow, Failure Parade pulls it off. They make it feel natural, inevitable even. Listening to it feels like flipping through old photographs—you recognize bits and pieces, but everything’s tinged with sadness, nostalgia, maybe even guilt.
Here’s the kicker though: after listening to Winter EP, I realized how rare it is to find music that actually feels cold. Most artists try to evoke warmth or energy, but Failure Parade leans fully into the chill. It’s uncomfortable, sure, but isn’t that what great art should do? Make you sit with feelings you’d rather ignore?
So yeah, check this out if you’re into dark, brooding music that’ll mess with your head—and heart—a little. Just don’t blame me if you end up staring out a frosty window for hours afterward, wondering why life has to be so heavy sometimes.
