Lord Of The Lost is embarking on a new adventure.
In 2025, Chris “The Lord” Harms (vocals/guitar/violin), Class Grenayde (bass), Gared Dirge (keyboards/guitar/percussion), Pi Stoffers (guitar), and Niklas Kahl (drums), now joined by Benjamin “Benji” Mundigler (guitar/keyboards), are embarking on a new chapter in their discography with their tenth album, OPVS NOIR Vol. 1, released by Napalm Records.
We start off at full speed with Bazaar Bizarre, a majestic yet mysterious opening track, a feeling reinforced by the verses where Chris is alone on a minimalist instrumental. The more imposing passages return to punctuate the track and give it a more aggressive edge, but the song eventually gives way to My Sanctuary, a slightly shorter and more upbeat track that clearly borrows from the danceable Post-Punk touches. The simple riffs easily embellish the track, but it is with a completely different approach that the band collaborates with Within Temptation to offer us the sweet Light Can Only Shine In The Darkness, creating a striking duet with Sharon den Adel that perfectly represents what we expect from the term “Gothic Metal,” especially when the vocalist returns to his saturated singing. I Will Die In It remains largely in this catchy vein, embellished by keyboards that are sometimes dark, sometimes grandiose, allowing the band to offer this massive break before moving on to Moonstruck, for which Chris is more directive, like a master of ceremonies, especially when he screams or is supported by the Stimmgewalt collective. We continue with Damage, a track with aggressive industrial roots on which the musicians welcome Whiplasher Bernadotte (Deathstars) on vocals, creating a new, natural, and extremely effective duo before the sound calms down noticeably for Ghosts, where they are joined by cellist Tina Guo, who gives a real boost to the most intense passages. Lords Of Fyre, the next track, takes on an epic feel as the band collaborates with their compatriots Feuerschwanz, whose Power Metal tones and vociferous vocals significantly reinforce the sound of Lord of the Lost, which calms down again for The Things We Do For Love, which starts off like a ballad. The sound flares up at times, but the composition remains fairly calm overall, sometimes even a little melancholic, except for the devastating break that will surprise many before the final, followed by The Sadness In Everything, where they are joined by Anna Maria Rose (Tales of Time), who brings a touch of softness to the already intense sound. The album reaches its end with Dreams Are Never Alone, the last haunting creation that allows the band to captivate us one last time while deploying the most majestic elements at their disposal while remaining extremely melodious.
While Lord of the Lost‘s reputation is already established, OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 is a very promising start to this new phase in their discography. Everything on this album is mastered down to the smallest detail, and the collaborations allow them to expand their range of sounds with breathtaking consistency.
90/100