Sirenia: Dim Days of Dolor
Norwegian symphonic death metal group Sirenia will be releasing their 8th studio album, 'Dim Days of Dolor,' on Napalm Records this November 11th. This album is the first with new lead vocalist, Emmanuelle Zoldan. Hailing from Aix-en-Provence, France, Zoldan is a complete powerhouse as a trained opera singer. Zoldan has been a part of the Sirenia choir for over a decade and is now taking her moment to shine. Shine she does in this album, as a strong yet beautifully delicate vocalist who brings Morten Veland’s musical ideas to life.
The title track reminds listeners of the stress that they may feel as part of growing up and striking out on their own; Zoldan sings “I’ve been using losing my mind, I’ve been way falling behind, I’m just looking to survive”. As a college student with a full-time course load with a part-time job, I relate very strongly to what is being discussed. Later on in the song, the female and male vocals have a brief call-and-response that is meant to comfort, but instead leads directly into a heart-wrenching instrumental solo.
“Cloud Nine” (track 5) begins with creepy, horror-movie sounding piano synth and distorted audio before ripping into a choral section that is worthy of Handel’s Messiah. This song is definitely one of the catchiest on the album, with lots of double-trigger pedalling in the drums and a repeated, easy to sing melody.
This album is different from previous albums due to its sheer intensity. The lyrics draw from raw, dark emotions that all humans have; melancholy, fear, and anger. The strings and synth offer a movie-like atmosphere, and the guitar, drums, and bass bring the album back to its heavy-metal roots.
This album is definitely an easy listen, and I would definitely recommend this band to fans of Evanescence and Flyleaf. The strong female lead vocals coupled with the intensity of the instrumental parts and the genius that is Morten Veland create an album that leads listeners to question their ideas on life, emotion, and love.
SIRENIA - The 12th Hour (Official Lyric Video) | Napalm Records
