Blackbriar – A Dark Euphony
Release Date: 29th September 2023
Label: Nuclear Blast
Order/Stream
Genre: Symphonic Metal, Alternative metal, Gothic Rock.
FFO: Xandria, Dark Sarah, AD Infinitum, Eleine, Nightwish, Stream of Passion, Within Temptation.
Review By: Mark Waight
Never mind roll over Beethoven, it’s roll over Mozart, Hayden, Schubert and Bach too with this stunning new release from Blackbriar. A Dark Euphony is just the sort of composition that the old masters would be creating if they were still alive and kicking in this modern world.
A Dark Euphony paints a vivid picture of beautiful landscapes and fairytale creatures as you are enveloped in a thoroughly enchanting and dream filled journey of mystery and wonder. Kick back and prepare yourself to be immersed and entertained by something truly exceptional. Blackbriar also have an ace up their sleeve, and that is the unique and totally mesmerizing vocals of Zora Cock. Her delivery and style can only be likened to maybe a time back in 1978 when the world was left totally open-mouthed after being first introduced to Kate Bush.
Blackbriar is Zora Cock (vocals), Rene Boxem (drums), Bart Winters (guitar), Robin Koezen (guitar), Siebe Sol Sijpkens (bass) and Ruben Wijga (Keyboards).
We begin with An Unwelcome Guest, a lovely composition rich in depth with some clever turns of speed. A super heavy riff fully compliments the haunting vocals, and our journey is off to a flyer.
We are transported to a Far Distant Land by the next track with its silky smooth and cotton wool soft opening. The vocals drift along sweetly between moments of simplicity and scattered darker sections. In the Spirit of Forgetfulness, we are treated to something a little more sorrowful and melancholic. The guitars and strings arrangement combine beautifully to bring the tears to life in an absolute epic of a song.
Bloody Footprints in the Snow is all about the percussion laying out a very atmospheric backdrop, with its gentle pace being overlaid by some sharp and distinctive guitar work, whilst The Evergreen and Weeping Tree is a super sweet as honey lament that that fills your heart with sadness and emotion as it builds to a fabulous climax that is to absolutely die for! The guitars are sublime as they cry out in unison.
The multi layered vocals on Cicada are divine. There is a version of this song on YouTube where they have been isolated and a whole host of Zora’s deliver a spellbinding performance. Check it out!
My Souls Demise worms its way through your ears with the vocals and strings arrangement passionately echoing each other in total harmony whilst a superb guitar solo reminds us that this is Metal and what a super tight band Blackbriar really are. We Make Mist skilfully weaves a much heavier bass into the foray as things are taken up a notch with a more gothic and darker soundtrack. A Dark Euphony is an album that just keeps giving!
Thumbelina continues the darker and heavier thread, with Zora’s angelic vocals providing a compelling interpretation of the children’s Fairy Tale in an almost childlike and intoxicating way. Pure musical fantasy!
Forever and a Day, flows like a modern-day symphonic metal nursery rhyme as it reaches right into your very soul, with a well crafted and superbly executed guitar solo being one of several highlights. This is blue ribbon quality!
All good things sadly must end, but Blacbriar should not be left with Crimson Faces, as they have created something truly special here. Every track on A Dark Euphony is a truly outstanding composition and capable of being released as a single.
As the proud owner of all Blackbriar’s previous discography (six singles and a debut album) as an independent band, I was super excited to see what they could deliver with a big record label behind them. I can now confirm this is comfortably their best work to date and that A Dark Euphony is indeed a career defining moment that cements Blackbriar’s place right at the pinnacle of the Symphonic Metal genre. There will not be a finer Symphonic Metal album released this year, so do yourself a big favour and check it out now! Blackbriar are indeed modern-day masters!
(5 / 5)
