Dark rock and gothic metal done by some of the biggest names in the Swedish and Finnish scenes. If you have somehow missed out on Cemetery Skyline til now and that doesn’t whet your appetite, Nordic Gothic just might not be your cup of tea. But for what is arguably a majority of the metal community, it’s time to take a dip back into the ’80s/’90s gothic lens as seen through Scandinavian melodeath players eyes. Considering the gargantuan line-up and some early song previews, this became a notable fall release for this scribe, and one that fully delivered on it’s promises and then some.
First and foremost in a small moment of gushing, as a diehard fan of Dark Tranquillity’s Projector, having a full album of Mikael Stanne’s clean vocals is just an exciting premise that many didn’t think would ever materialize. Then to have this gothic/dark rock vibe that it blends with so perfectly, it just nails all of the right musical vibes. The songs are varied and don’t stay in any particular corner for too long. Markus Vanhala (Insomnium/Omnium Gatherum) flexes a lot of melodic muscle in the riff department in new directions. From the gloomy goth ballad “When Silence Speaks,” which channels some beautiful yet depressive tones that hit a ‘retro yet not’ vibe, to the grooving and cinematic “Behind the Lie,” which soars with power, it feels like gothic/rock sound is only the stepping stone for the band to reach into different soundscapes. “Never Look Back” feels more pop/rock with a doomy slant than anything else, supported by some big keyboard presence, courtesy of Amorphis’ Santeri Kallio, while the playful guitar melodies merge with Stanne’s vocals in such a way it wouldn’t feel out of place to hear it on rock radio.
Make no mistake, the second bit of why Nordic Gothic works so well, if you haven’t grasped it yet, is how melodic and accessible it is. Undoubtedly some of the most hook-forward and catchy material that these guys have penned in comparison to their ‘main acts,’ there’s no shortage of insidiously memorable riffs and melodies. “Anomalie” is the sort of thing that could make even a gloomy black hoodie-adorned teen crank it from the speakers and just jam. Closing ballad “Alone Together” is soaked in melancholy but there’s still this surprisingly upbeat and soaring feeling you can get as the song reaches it’s gorgeous solo after the 5-min mark. Even at it’s most Type O Negative-y and downtrodden in “The Coldest Heart,” there’s a warmth and groove to the guitars, not to mention the enticing keys. Of course, Stanne makes a major impression along the way too, right from the get-go with the more rocking “Torn Away” with an immediate level of charisma and passion.
Clearly a passion project for all those involved, Cemetery Skyline sees its ‘who’s who’ line-up of Scandinavian metal really get a chance to spread their wings with material that’s a genuinely different flavor than what they normally produce. Nordic Gothic is dripping with haunting tones and ear-worming melodies that all but beg for you to replay them over and over again. A special album that not only works as a fitting reflection of the emerging fall season, but easily one of 2024’s finest albums as a whole.