Review Summary: The first in a planned trilogy provides a refreshing direction for Green Carnation’s gothic prog
Five years after signaling their return with 2020’s Leaves Of Yesteryear, Green Carnation’s seventh full-length sets up an ambitious direction forward. As suggested by the title, A Dark Poem, Pt. I: The Shores Of Melancholia is the first in a planned trilogy dedicated to covering Shakespearean tragedy. The presentation may be as compact as its predecessor at forty-two minutes and featuring a similar blend of gothic prog, but you can certainly feel a greater sense of purpose affects the execution.
The band’s pacing has never been this snappy, putting its eclectic mix of influences toward fluctuating dynamics that keep a sense of extravagance while never losing sight of those autumn vibes. The musicianship is nicely balanced as the guitars provide meaty riffs with a full tone as the bass gets some shining flourishes and the keyboards provide extra layers. The vocals also make for a reassuring constant, delivering the melodies in a comforting baritone that elevates the softer segments yet never sounds overwhelmed by the extremities.
Speaking of which, I appreciate how the songwriting hits that catchy spirit of their 2000s outings while pushing moods to some dramatic extents. “Me, My Enemy” and “The Slave That You Are” is the most exaggerated polarization at play, the former serving as a airy swaying ballad while the latter pushes the sort of black metal blasts that trigger associations with their sister band Into The Woods… alongside an effective clean chorus. I also dig the more straightforward goth-doom riff sets on “As Silence Took You” and “In Your Paradise” as well as the more upbeat trots on the closing “Too Close To The Flame.”
Overall, Green Carnation’s first part of A Dark Poem offers a promising trajectory for their gothic eclecticism. While the band has realized some broader ambitions in the past, it’s hard to recall when their hooks have felt so potent and it’s easy to see how this’ll all add up when the scope is fully put into perspective. In the meantime, the varied songwriting and vibrant musicianship work greatly in this album’s favor. If the other two installments come out this strong, we could be looking at one of the strongest goth metal holdouts.
