Through the Deep, Dark Valley is the debut album by American folk rock band The Oh Hellos, released in 2012.[1][2][3] It's 11 songs were written, produced, and performed by siblings Tyler and Maggie Heath. Most of the songs feature a traditional Celtic rhythm featuring acoustic guitars and smooth percussion.[4][2]
While The Oh Hellos are not exclusively a Christian band, Through the Deep, Dark Valley carries strong biblical and spiritual themes. They also take heavy influence from the Christian writer, C.S. Lewis', book series, the Chronicles of Narnia.[5] The songs vary between soft, melancholic ballads and lively, chant-like anthems, reflecting different emotional and spiritual struggles.[4]
The album's themes also draw from the Heaths' personal experiences and reflections on love, family, personal growth, faith, and identity amid rebellion and exploration. Originally conceived as a concept album, it loosely follows a narrator’s journey of self-discovery as they confront their own faults, regrets, and the people and experiences they distanced themselves from during their rebellion.[2][4] As Tyler Heath described, by the album’s end, the narrator reaches a turning point, realizing, "You know what? Maybe I need to go home and right some wrongs that I did," setting the stage for their path forward.[5]
Two years later, in 2015, The Oh Hellos released Dear Wormwood as a second volume to their debut album.[6]
2022 remaster
In 2022, to mark the 10 year anniversary of the album's release, The Oh Hellos remastered all of the songs on the album.[7]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Maggie and Tyler Heath
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Valley" | 2:54 |
| 2. | "Like the Dawn" | 5:05 |
| 3. | "Eat You Alive" | 1:37 |
| 4. | "Second Child" | 2:46 |
| 5. | "Wishing Well" | 3:37 |
| 6. | "In Memoriam" | 3:02 |
| 7. | "The Lament of Eustace Scrubb" | 4:05 |
| 8. | "I Was Wrong" | 4:24 |
| 9. | "I Have Made Mistakes" | 4:49 |
| 10. | "The Truth Is a Cave" | 4:00 |
| 11. | "The Valley (Reprise)" | 2:55 |
| Total length: | 39:19 | |
References
- ^ "Through The Deep Dark Valley". The Oh Hellos. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ a b c Grey, Stephanie. "The Oh Hellos on C.S. Lewis, Christian Art and Learning to Trust the Music Industry". Westword. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ Dye, David (2013-06-03). "Next: The Oh Hellos". NPR.
- ^ a b c Bush, Mikayla (2023-01-30). "The Oh Hellos' Through the Deep Dark Valley casts me into a spiral of Fears and Faiths". The Central Trend. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ a b Menyes, Carolyn (2015-10-15). "The Oh Hellos Bring C.S. Lewis Inspirations to Rich New Album 'Dear Wormwood': Interview". Music Times. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "Dear Wormwood, by The Oh Hellos". The Oh Hellos. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
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