Review Summary: Strange. New. Dawn.
To be fair I was already well satisfied with the year in metal. It’s been a big one. But Strange New Dawn have forced one last endeavor - due only to its quality and no other obligation.
The last few years have been fertile ground for Kristiansand, Norway, particularly its metal produce. Let’s be clear, this is the family of bands comprising In The Woods…, Green Carnation, new project Nattehimmel and the subject band Strange New Dawn.
Intertwined through all these projects are the Botteri brothers (Christian guitars and Christopher bass) who have already gelled this year with the 90’s symphonic black metal release under the Nattehimmel banner.
What could they possibly do with their other outlet Strange New Dawn this late in the year. Well a lot it pans out.
Now I wasn’t immediately sold on the opener “Journey Within” but it plays a part. A strange brew of a song that introduces this combination of progressive melodic doom metal with a symphonic backdrop and soaring vocals from Roy Andersen. The next song “Class Hero Idol” is where my ears really pricked up. This is the metal hook that hooked this unsuspecting passer-by. Its opening ethereal mist evaporates into powerful riffs and drumming that have an addictive momentum and takes the listener pleasantly along. The singing is exquisite and three quarters through the climax “Open spaces after rain, I will follow” is just magic.
“Defenders of Faith” has an 80’s pop feel and this nostalgia of childhood influences by the band members is shared by this writer. The song morphs into a melodic metal banquet that has Devin Townsend levels of uplifting charm.
The record is powerful, not only in the hooky song writing but also in the strength of the delivery. The singing is a big point of difference and all members’ creative playing is not unnoticed. It strikes an unusual balance of melodic doom with progressive elements and psychedelia but also accessibility, which lends to a simple joy. These are the New Nights of Euphoria.
It is a metal album at heart though with “The Wake of Icons” bellow of “I should be gone!!” and the ensuing “Fortune Bringer” having the signature Botteri brothers flowing guitars passages. But as best evidenced in this song, it is the introductory keyboards and cleaning singing that first captivates before those rhythm passages take it to another level.
The excellent “Seek it” has vocals akin to ICS Vortex and patently this style of metal shares regional characteristics with other works such as Arcturus, Ulver and Dodheimsgard. But for all the forest psychedelia, there is also an awareness of the horrors of reality in some of these songs, truly a Strange New Dawn.
Not to be front loaded, the final stanza of songs are just as interesting. Andersen shines on “High Strangeness”, his harmonies suitably accenting the meloblack melodies. The ICS Vortex vocals channelling is back on (first single) “Sons of Galaxy” which floats to a grand epic ascension. To finish this piece, “The Passing” is a culinary culmination of all preceding touchstones to sign off in style.
