Poema Arcanvs - Stardust Solitude (2020)

As one of our most anticipated releases of 2020, today we have Chile’s Poema Arcanvs and their sixth full-length release titled “Stardust Solitude”. Being huge fans of their music since their “Iconoclast” album back in 2002, we love the band’s unique style that delivers a mixture of Moonspell and My Dying Bride branded Death/Doom. With nearly an hour of music, this release will certainly please their fans and fans of the genre due to the high quality of its eight tracks.

Opening with the album title, we get the band’s traditional heavy riffs, crafty drumming and the hypnotic lead vocals of Claudio Carrasco Garcia. The vocal arrangements and uniqueness alone is the signature of the band, while their creative and yet traditional sound perfectly complements them on tracks like “Orphans”, “Haven” and the playful “The Lighthouse Keeper”. Thanks to its very atmospheric mood, this last track creates a very decadent and melancholic vibe.

One of our favorite things about the band is the free-flowing vocal style on tracks like “Straits of Devotion”, something that is not very prevalent in this genre as singers are usually trying to deliver deep growls or hit those classic Doom notes. The production quality behind this release is top notch, with every single element perfectly mixed and balanced across songs like “Pilgrim”, and its crystal clear drums/cymbals, and the superbly catchy “Kingdom Ruins” and its crafty tempo changes.

Closing with the moody “Brave”, Poema Arcanvs has managed to deliver anothe brilliant release that follows its own path. While some of the band’s influences are evident, the way they have crafted their sound is quite engaging and creative. If you are looking for a solid Death/Doom Metal release filled with dramatic clean vocals, just about the right amount of growls, and a plethora of catchy riffs, look no further and get a copy of “Stardust Solitude”.

Label: Transcending Obscurity Records

Release: August 28th, 2020

Genre: Death/Doom Metal

Country: Chile