Carmeria - Ex Cathedra (2026)

Hailing from Australia, today we have Symphonic Gothic/Power Metal outfit Carmeria with their latest full-length release “Ex Cathedra”. With a similar style to Kamelot, Serenity, and Visions of Atlantis, this release unleashes ten tracks and over 38-minutes of highly engaging bombastic music. Full of soaring vocal melodies and crafty atmospherics, this release sounds as good as any other bigger band from the genre, but it comes from an exciting unsigned artist.

Kicking off with dramatic orchestrations in the album titled opener, the band sets a very cinematic and exciting pace that is continued by “Wings”. Immediately showcasing Jordan von Grae’s powerful vocals, which remind us a bit of Tommy Karevik (Kamelot), the album kicks into gear with powerful riffs, crafty drumming and excellent melodic passages. The band’s sound continues to get more expansive and engaging as tracks like “Unto the Dawn” and “The Ashenheart” come along, with powerful keytar and guitar leads.

Musically, this release is quite diverse and powerful, with tracks like “Phantasma”, “Caelira”, and “Shadows in the Sunlight”, being quite memorable and engaging. There are always catchy chorus sections or intricate instrumental details that keep the listener always discovering something new and different. Alongside the band’s Symphonic/Gothic Metal, there are also some cool Power Metal influences on pieces like “A Rose Divine”, giving a certain Powerwolf/Sabaton-esque vibe to the release.

As the release closes with the moody “Echos of the Dream”, we are left quite satisfied with Carmeria and “Ex Cathedra”. The band manages to make and impression in a very crowded space thanks to their excellent songwriting skills and focused efforts. There is nothing over-the-top or forced in this release, all tracks feel very organic and natural, giving the band an edge over others that just copy their peers. If you are looking for something melodic, bombastic and exciting, look no further and check this album out.

Rating: 98/100