Sirenia – Dim Days of Dolor (2016)

Taking the scene by surprise by changing lead singers, Sirenia manages to come out on top with the brilliant “Dim Days of Dolor”. Delivering over 55 minutes of signature Sirenia Symphonic/Gothic Metal, the band shows no signs of slowing down while unleashing their best release to date. If you are concerned on how Emmanuelle Zoldan fits with the band’s style, you are in for a treat as her vocals perfectly blend with the bombastic nature of the music.

Opening with the explosive “Goddess of the Sea”, the band instantly shows that their sound is still as bombastic as ever and that Emmanuelle’s seductive vocals seamlessly integrate with it. One of the things we love more about Sirenia is the lush and vibrant choir arrangements and this track instantly satisfied our cravings. The catchiest song on this release, and probably the band’s history, comes under the album title and delivers a brilliant chorus section and very digestible and engaging riffs. Once you hear this track, you will not be able to get it out of your head.

As the album progresses with tracks like “The 12th Hour”, “Treasure n’ Treason”, and “Cloud Nine”, Emmanuelle’s operatic vocals feel like they have always been there and fit the music in a very natural way. They also make the overall vibe of the music more dramatic and engaging. One of our favorite songs is the Heavy-metal esque sounding “Ashes to Ashes” which provides heavy riffs and solid tempo changes, keeping things heavy and entertaining.

Morten Veland’s excellent composition skills shine through this release as it nicely changes moods. The last few tracks feel darker and heavier, such as “Elusive Sun”, “Playing with Fire” and the epic “Fifth Column”. Morten’s growls sound as good as ever and they provide a good contrast to Emmanuelle’s vocals. The album closes with the excellent ballad “Aeon’s Embrace”, allowing the whole experience to nicely sink in and be enjoyed.

Overall, “Dim Days of Dolor” is one excellent release that is filled with explosive bombastic songs that command the listener’s attention. Even with a new singer, the band is as good as ever and while some might take a bit to adjust, Emmanuelle’s talents will surely win all the skeptical fans of the band. If you like bombastic and yet heavy Symphonic/Gothic Metal, this is probably one of the finest releases of 2016, and you should not miss it.

Label: Napalm Records

Release: November 11th, 2016

Genre: Symphonic/Gothic Metal

Country: Norway