Last of the Lonely Gods is the first solo album by Shihad guitarist and singer Jon Toogood. Released in October 2024 it peaked at No. 9 in New Zealand's albums chart, and at No. 2 on the chart of albums by New Zealand artists.[1][2]
Played on acoustic guitar, the songs were inspired by years of what Toogood called "personal carnage". This included a 2021 COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne preventing him from seeing his mother before she died, a later lockdown in Wellington stranding him away from his wife and children while he lived with his sister and dying brother-in-law, and then a COVID infection leaving him with severe tinnitus that prevented him from sleeping and led to panic attacks.[3][4]
The album's songwriting began after a cognitive behavioural therapist suggested that Toogood play guitar as a mindfulness exercise, which helped alleviate his tinnitus symptoms and anxiety.[5]
Track listing
edit- Lost in My Hometown
- Shouldn't Leave it Like That
- Last of the Lonely Gods
- Gravity
- Love is Forever
- Us Against the World
- Swallow Song
- The Best You Can
- Maybe It Was Your Heart
- Missing Paradise
References
edit- ^ "Official Top 20 Aotearoa Albums". Aotearoa Music Charts. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Official Top 40 Albums". Aotearoa Music Charts. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Shihad frontman Jon Toogood has a lot of 'personal carnage' to unpack". RNZ. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Haley, Connor (10 May 2024). "Pandemic experience reflected in album". Otago Daily Times. Timaru Courier. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Bruce, Greg (4 October 2024). "Shihad's Jon Toogood reflects on loss and recovery in new solo album". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
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