Gothic Metal

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    Angellore - Nocturnes (2026)

    Angellore - Nocturnes (2026)
    Angellore - Nocturnes (2026)

    Oozing that melancholy of 90’s Gothic Death/Doom Metal, today we have France’s Angellore and their latest opus ‘Nocturnes”. With a very adorned and lush sound, this band masterfully unleashes five tracks and nearly 56 minutes of majestic music. Taking their name from a song from Tristania’s “Widow's Weeds” album (one of our favorites), we got instantly attracted to spend a good deal of time exploring and enjoying this epic release.

    Opening with the lush “Failing Birds”, the band wastes no time to show their polish, with a very delicate progression into a very well crafted male and female vocal dynamic. Changing things around, “Black Sun River” starts with a Gothic Metal edge thanks to the deep clean male vocals and dramatic atmospherics, which suddenly transition into even dreamier territories with Lucia’s angelic vocals and some crafty, and very Tristania-esque piano elements.

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    Draconian - In Somnolent Ruin (2026)

    Draconian - In Somnolent Ruin (2026)
    Draconian - In Somnolent Ruin (2026)

    While most are waiting for the new Darkthrone album to come out on May 8th, we have been more curious about the return of Lisa Johansson on Draconian’s eight full-length release “In Somnolent Ruin”. Far from disappointing, this release brings back the band to their 2000’s form, creating a very sombre and enchanting nearly 60 minutes of music with this release. We loved the band’s era with Heike Langhans on vocals as she has her own awesomely unique voice, but with Lisa, the band just gives us the same goosebumps from us back in the day.

    Opening with “I Welcome Thy Arrow”, the beauty-and-the-beast duet from Anders Jacobsson and Lisa Johansson is back in business. Setting a very dark and enveloping atmosphere for this release, the band masterfully transitions into the dreary “The Monochrome Blade”, and the somber “Anima”, which features Daniel Änghede as a guest vocalist. Despondent tracks like “The Face of God” are exactly what makes Draconian one of the premiere bands of the genre as the ooze melancholy and misery.

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    Hanging Garden - Isle of Bliss (2026)

    Hanging Garden - Isle of Bliss (2026)
    Hanging Garden - Isle of Bliss (2026)

    Keeping up with their one release a year consistency, Finland’s Hanging Garden return this time with their latest full-length “Isle of Bliss”. Featuring their usual doom and gloom sound, but this time with more fierce onslaughts, the band sets a very melancholic vibe for nearly 50-minutes of highly engaging music. Compared to outfits like Swallow the Sun, Rapture, Insomnium, etc. the band further expands their musical palette in this excellent release.

    Opening with the fierce “To Outlive the Nine Ravens”, we were caught completely by surprise on how brutal this track was. Until the layered vocal arrangements came on, we thought that we were listening to a different band. This explosivity nicely continues as “Eternal Trees of Turquoise” comes along, but progressively moves the band into their more familiar Doomy and melancholic territories. With the album title track, we are fully back to the band’s bread and butter Death/Doom/Gothic Metal with a very mellow and magical piece, thanks to Riikka Hatakka and Toni Hatakka dueting.

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    The Eternal - Celestial (2026)

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    Perfectly unleashing a highly melancholic mixture of Gothic and Doom Metal, today we have international outfit The Eternal, returning with a six-track EP titled “Celestial”. Featuring current and ex members of Finland’s Amorphis and members of Australia’s Nefariym, this release unleashes nearly 30 minutes of music that reminds us of a cross between bands like To/Die/For with sprinkles of Anathema and Paradise Lost.

    After the dreamy opener, “Celestial Veil” quickly unleashes powerful Doomy riffs that set a very melancholic backdrop to Mark Kelson’s piercing vocals. The band’s ability to shift tempos and moods is very effective, partly thanks to Jan Rechberger’s expert drumming, creating very dynamic songs. Other tracks like “It All Ends” have a more prominent Gothic Metal edge with crafty percussions and dreamy atmospherics, reminding us of the late 90’s/early 2000’s Finnish Gothic Metal scene.

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    Novembre - Words of Indigo (2025)

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    Hailing from Italy, Novembre was one of those early bands with a strong melancholic Death/Doom sound when Katatonia, Anathema, My Dying Bride were rising up. Over the years, the band shifted into more Progressive and even Gothic Metal territories with excellent releases filled with emotions and intricately crafted music. With a very melancholic sound, Carmelo Orlando returns with a brand new cast of musicians to deliver eleven tracks and over 60 minutes of dreamy and highly emotive music, with some of their best songs to date.

    Not a very constant presence in the scene, the band after their 2007 release, dropped off the radar, in terms of releases, for nine years, and then after their 2016 release, dropped off again for another nine years. That being said, once “Sun Magenta” opened this release, we were instantly cured of missing the band’s signature ‘mopey’ sound. Being a mixture of mid-stage Katatonia with older Anathema and some sprinkles of Fall of the Leaf, songs like “Statua”, “ Neptunian Hearts”, and our favorite “House of Rain”, are very dreamy and engaging pieces full of atmosphere and craftiness.

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    Remina - The Silver Sea (2025)

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    Unleashing one of the most dreamy and otherworldly releases of 2025, today we have Remina with their sophomore release “The Silver Sea”. Formed by Heike Langhans and Mike Lamb, and now with Shayne Roos on drums, this outfit delivers one hell of an Atmospheric Gothic/Doom Metal release that will send shivers down your spine. For seven tracks and nearly 45-minutes of music, the band creates some of the most atmospheric and haunting music ever created, so be prepared to be blown away.

    Opening with the sidereal dreaminess of “Trust No One”, Heike’s solemn and charismatic vocals are perfectly embraced by trippy and crafty atmospherics alongside powerful riffs. Featuring a more prominent Doom vibe, “Algol” has Mick Moss (Antimatter) in an amazingly engaging duet with Heike. The second guest appearance comes under “Vanta Ray”, a very lively piece featuring Tony Dunn of Sgàile and very crafty guitar work, alongside playful drumming and a very melancholic vibe.

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    Paradise Lost - Ascension (2025)

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    Further going back into their earlier days, Paradise Lost returns with a hefty Doomy release that nicely balances their Gothic Rock/Metal side with their crushing earlier Death Doom days. Nick Holmes and company have mostly stayed with the same line-up (sans their drummer) since 1988, allowing them to reach back into their old bag of tricks and deliver one of their most (recently) heavy and misery-induced releases in a while.

    Opening with the piercing “Serpent on the Cross”, we kick off with Greg Mackintosh melancholic guitar leads, Holmes signature growl, alongside a heavy dose of catchiness and heaviness. Setting a very dark and moody vibe, “Tyrants Serenade" continues the band’s despondent journey with a more Gothic Doom edge thanks to the soaring clean vocals, and crafty bass and rhythm guitar lines. As one of our favorite tracks from the band in more than ten years, “Salvation” is definitely one gargantuan Doomy piece filled with desolate guitars and vocal melodies.

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    Katatonia - Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State (2025)

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    As the first Katatonia release without Anders Nyström, “Nightmares as Extensions of the Walking State” continues the band’s moody and melancholic journey with ten emotional songs. While losing Anders was a big blow to the band, Jonas Renkse and company compensate by creating a very dreamy and crafty release that weaves back and forth between bleakness and heaviness, but at the end of the day, still feels as just a continuation of their efforts from the last few years.

    The release starts heavy with powerful riffs that very quickly dissolve into the band’s weepy style. New guitarists Nico Elgstrand (ex Entombed) and Sebastian Svalland (ex In Mourning), are definitely capable musicians and imprint some of their personal styles on tracks like “The Liquid Eye”, “Lilac”, and “Departure Trails”, they still mimic some of the older ‘Katatonia-style’ riffs and arrive at a very familiar and traditional sound, which is not band for people expecting more of the same, but it does now grow the band’s musical range.

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    Liv Kristine - Amor Vincit Omnia (2025)

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    Returning with her enchanting vocals, today we have Liv Kristine’s latest solo effort “Amor Vincit Omnia”. Featuring eleven tracks and nearly 45 minutes of music, this release was composed with Sascha Dannenberger, creating very enchanting compositions that are slightly different from her previous release, but yet deliver her signature sound. Filled with melancholy and very captivating, this release masterfully showcases the magic of Liv Kristine.

    Opening with the album title track, we start strong with playful guitars, solemn vocal interludes, and a bit of a mixture of very old-school Theater of Tragedy (thanks to the harsh vocals) and the more modern influences of Liv Kristine’s latest solo efforts. This melodramatic tone continues through the dramatic “Ode to Life Pristine”, the melancholic and very dreamy “12th February”, and the catchiness of “Angel in Disguise”. Sascha perfectly leverages Liv’s vocal harmonies to create very engaging and powerful tracks that are very direct and effective.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Epica - Aspiral (2025)

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    Damn, it is the first word that comes to mind when listening to Epica’s latest effort “Aspiral”. Just when you think that a band can’t get any better, this Dutch outfit returns with eleven tracks and over an hour of some of their most explosive and bombastic music. Filled with signature Epica-style moments and tons of melody and catchiness, this release completely surpasses the level of awesomeness that the band delivered a few years back with “Omega”.

    Instantly opening with the banger “Cross the Divide”, the band fully immerses the listener into their world of dramatic orchestrations, lush guitar work, and a very hectic and yet digestible pace that is masterfully led by Simone Simons talented vocals. In a very epic fashion, the band perfectly blends dramatic choirs with crafty tempo changes. Creating mesmerizing songs like “Arcana”, “Darkness Dies in Light - A New Age Dawns Part VII”, and the super bombastic and catchy “Fight to Survive - The Overdrive Effect”, one of their best tracks to date.

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