Green Carnation is writing a new chapter.
Formed in 1990 but put on hold after only one demo, then resurrected, the Norwegian band led by Tchort (guitar, The 3rd Attempt, Blood Red Throne, ex-Carpathian Forest, ex-Emperor), Kjetil Nordhus (vocals, ex-Tristania, ex-Subterranean Masquerade), Bjørn Harstad (guitar, ex-In the Woods…), Stein Roger Sordal (bass, ex-In the Woods…), Jonathan Alejandro Perez (drums, Trail of Tears, ex-Sirenia) and Endre Kirkesola (keyboards) announces the release of their seventh album, A Dark Poem Part I: The Shores of Melancholia.
Kenneth Silden recorded keyboards before leaving the band.
The album begins with a fairly sober riff on As Silence Took You, the first haunting composition capable of intense parts as well as melancholic sobriety in certain passages or imposing moments when the two worlds come together. Kjetil‘s vocals are as captivating as ever, but he willingly gives way to the groove of the rhythm section, which leads us after a final chorus to In Your Paradise, which quickly energizes the rhythm by creating heady patterns, allowing the vocalist to diversify a little, even showing himself to be quite dark at times, as on the intense “I see it in your eyes.” There are also cybernetic tones on this track, as well as Ingrid Ose‘s flute, which also accompanies us on Me My Enemy, a mysterious instrumental piece where the vocals are slow to arrive but gradually illuminate the riffs, even offering a rather reassuring and comforting final despite the song’s theme. Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved) joins the musicians with his screams on The Slave That You Are, a track that borrows its rage from black metal, creating a real contrast with the softness of the choruses where Kjetil responds to his guest before a break that brings the two vocalists together. There are also traces of doom before the finale, which leads into The Shores of Melancholia. Although the composition lives up to its name, it also offers a few playful and haunting touches, but the track is relatively short and leaves us with Too Close to the Flame. The track lasts nine minutes, during which it shifts from a menacing tone with some shouted choruses to more complex passages, slower moments, Henning Seldal‘s percussion, and jerky riffs that carry the keyboards, then suddenly ends after a final farewell.
Although I’m not much of a fan of progressive metal, I find A Dark Poem Part I: The Shores of Melancholia to be very varied, which makes it enjoyable to listen to. Green Carnation doesn’t get bogged down in clichés and offers a catchy rhythm here.
80/100