Sirenia – ‘Dim Days Of Dolor’ [Review]
UPDATE: TMMP has been reborn! This video has the full story:
Click here to subscribe for free on YouTube!
With Donald Trump’s unexpected ascension to the American presidency, this week has proven one of the most dramatic in recent memory. Emotionally intense times call for emotionally intense music – and Sirenia’s Dim Days Of Dolor perfectly captures the mood of the times.
Operatic, bombastic, and naturally heavy metal is the order of the day here. Theatrical, sky-scraping, and incredibly passionate, Dim Days Of Dolor is also run through with a tangible sense of mourning and melancholy. New Sirenia frontwoman Emmanuelle Zoldan wastes neither time nor melodic notes in establishing herself as a formidable powerhouse, completely owning every moment.
This is more than impressive stuff; it’s symphonic metal at its darkest, brightest, and best.
Those looking to music for a sense of escapism will find sanctuary within Dim Days Of Dolor, its gothic atmospherics transporting them into other realms entirely. This album is an epic work of art, Sirenia’s bottomless love for what they do crystal clear. For me, The 12th Hour (spiralling vocals and bowels-of-Hell guitar tones are always a winning combination), the sparkling and fragile intro to Cloud Nine (not to mention its stuttering rhythmic patterns and perfectly timed electronics), and Elusive Sun’s strident riffage all proved personal highlights – but then, it’s tough to come up with constructively critical comments here.
While it’s true that Dim Days Of Dolor sticks closely to a solidly established symphonic metal template, and it’s not particularly unpredictable, it remains a stunning listening experience that I’m sure I’ll find myself returning to in the future. Again: This is symphonic metal at its darkest, brightest, and best.
TMMP RATING: 93% (Essential Listening!)
What do you think of Dim Days Of Dolor? Subscribe for free to my YouTube channel, leave a comment, and let me know!
You can also find me on Twitter by clicking here.
See you in the next video!