ALBUM REVIEW: cemetery Skyline - Nordic Gothic

Cemetery Skyline are supergroup formed in 2020 comprising Dark Tranquillity vocalist Mikael Stanne, Insomnium guitarist Markus Vanhala, Santeri Kallio of Amorphis on keyboards, Dimmu Borgir's Victor Brandt on bass and drummer Vesa Ranta (Sentenced). Nordic Gothic is their first full length release. Kallio, who shares song writing duties with Vanhala, describes them as "ambassadors of melodic, melancholic and dark rock", rather than just a goth band, although, he has stated that the band members do "share a deep love for goth rock from the 80s and 90s", which is something you can hear this from the onset of the recording. 

Torn Away sets the tone, and that tone is big. The production on this album makes it sound huge, with a wall of melodic, symphonic noise hitting you. This is more like Vision Thing Sisters of Mercy and their Temple of Love '92' remix, rather than the earlier, less polished releases. The bass rings out, the guitar is in your face, keys give some dynamics, especially in the quieter moments, and drums drive it along. Synth driven In Darkness, which also has a Rammstein-esque industrial style guitar, and Violent Storm, which has some chugging and a great hook in the chorus, follow on in a similar vein. Behind the Lie starts heavy and brings it down before unleashing a barrage of instruments. It is again a hooky number, and I'm feeling Rosetta Stone Eye's An Eye for the Main Chance. 

When they do take it down a little for When Silence Speaks, which could be on a movie soundtrack, it helps break the album up from the sonic onslaught. This has great dual guitar moments and introduces some strings into the mix. The Darkest Night is anthemic, and I could see a stadium singing along to this. Never Look Back is like a classic 80s power ballad, with a lovely melodic lead guitar motif after the choruses. A solo bass kicks off The Coldest Heart, before a heavy chug section that gives way to a piano roll verse, Guitars here remind me of Paradise Lost, as do the backing vocals. There is a haunting solo on this that also shows the shredding ability, but solos aren't really the focus of this album, it's the band that shines though. I can't help but think of a heavier version of the Sisters of Mercy's I was Wrong when I listen to this. Anomalie is probably the most commercial track on the album, although most are pretty 'poppy'. It might be the effects on the vocal at the intro that make me think this. I do have a guilty pleasure in the form of 80’s pop rock, as well as goth, and some of this was reminiscent of Duran Duran, in particular the closing track Alone Together, which had hints of Ordinary World in it, and at 7 minutes 32 seconds is the longest song on the album. Although, it didn't seem that long at all. 

It comes across as an album done by a band that is really enjoying what they are doing and working together as one to produce something that they love rather than showcasing an individual's talents. This album did take me a couple of listens to get used to and bed in, but once I put my 'this isn't metal' prejudice aside and listened for what it was, I really enjoyed it. It took me back to the mid/late 80s, when I was just really getting into music, and the bands that I was listening to at the time. It's ok, I moved onto metal sound enough, but still like this from time to time. It's good to cleanse your palate occasionally.

Nordic Gothic is released on 11th October via Century Media

Review by Rich 'Tricky' Hudson