Sirenia – Perils of the Deep Blue (2013)

Morten Veland and company have returned with a very powerful and engaging Sirenia release under the name of “Perils of the Deep Blue”. In this release we see the band going a bit back in time and bringing back some of the elements that made “Nine Destinies and a Downfall” one of their best releases six years ago. Featuring 11 tracks of majestic Symphonic/Gothic Metal, the band is seriously gunning for Epica’s crown in this genre.

After the lush and dramatic mood-setting opener “Ducere Me In Lucem”, the band really comes alive with the super catchy “Seven Windows Weep”. In this track we get lush choir arrangements to accompany Ailyn’s hypnotic vocals. With over the top orchestrations, this track and “My Destiny Coming To Pass” really set a very dynamic and overpowering atmosphere. The band also focuses on staying heavy, featuring powerful riffs and aggressive growls.

Keeping the melancholy and catchiness of the band’s previous releases, “Ditt Endelikt” is a very fun song that will immediately get stuck on your head thanks to the catchy chorus section. While we have some very bombastic tracks (“Cold Caress”), there are very heavy ones (“Darkling”), this greatly showcases the band’s versatility and excellent ability to make them work together in the album’s very dynamic and appealing flow.

On the weird side of things, we have some electronic elements on “Decadence” that further the band’s sound and add an extra level of creativity into the mix. The experimental “Stille Kom Døden” clocks in at 12 minutes long, making the band’s longest song ever and a truly emotional rollercoaster ride, changing moods several times and featuring excellent melodic passages. The mixture of clean and harsh male vocals works wonderfully in this release and adds even more depth to the band’s sound.

In general, Morten Veland has greatly outdone himself with this excellent Sirenia release. It features all the elements that fans of the band love mixed in with some new ideas, all creating a very explosive and powerful sound. “Perils of the Deep Blue” is an excellent release that any fan of Sirenia will surely appreciate. We are glad that the band decided to bring back some of their best elements from their past and give them a more modern feel in order to incorporate them to their rich and diverse sound.

Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Release: June 28th, 2013 (Europe) / July 9th, 2013 (North America)

Genre: Symphonic/Gothic Metal

Country: Norway