Scions’ To Cry Out In The Wilderness: A Sonic Pilgrimage for Dystopian Times

Review Seb Hallam

Scions, a nine-piece collective, captures something truly unique on their debut album, To Cry Out In The Wilderness, set for release November 8th via Idée Fixe Records. Conceived in seclusion on Wolfe Island and recorded using renewable energy in Halifax’s St. George’s Round Church, the album explores themes of climate disaster, spirituality, and hope through a mix of folk, drone, jazz, and avant-garde influences.

Opening with Scions followed by “Moss Lung,” Scions sets a haunting tone that pulls listeners into a contemplative space, balanced by layered instrumentation and vocals that flow like incantations. To Cry Out In The Wilderness reaches a powerful peak in its title track, where all nine members converge to create an immersive, nearly ten-minute sonic landscape. The sense of urgency here is palpable, expressing both despair and resilience as the collective voice grows, pauses, and swells again in dynamic waves.

In “Fight Song,” Scions delivers a resonant call to action with a visceral energy that stands in contrast to the quieter, reflective tones of tracks like “Even When All Was Silent I Was Not Alone.” The group’s adept blending of genres, especially in the stirring “Equals In Hope,” conveys the intensity of their messages without sacrificing cohesiveness, which is a testament to the seamless production led by audio engineer Jake Nicoll and the portable solar-powered RV studio.

This album doesn’t just tell a story of isolation and introspection; it brings listeners into the heart of a community grappling with real fears and deep-rooted aspirations for a better world. As Scions weaves their eclectic sound with unwavering emotional depth, To Cry Out In The Wilderness becomes an album as introspective as it is communal, grounding listeners in a message of hope amid dystopia.