Cemetery Skyline – ‘Nordic Gothic’

Gothic Metal

Century Media

Release Date – October 11th 2024

Review By Smudge Smith

Not content with being the first voice heard on an In Flames record or forming Dark Tranquility then putting together the melodic death metal super-group The Halo Effect (who are releasing their new record in the New Year) Mikael Stanne has formed another super-group who have produced something utterly brilliant. Jeez this guy just knows a good thing and let me tell he can sing properly too. Formed of mates and members of the likes of Imsomnium/Omnium Gatherum/Dimmu Borgir/Entombed/Witchery and Amorphis so what’s not to like. Don’t be fooled into thinking this more melodic death metal, it’s melodic but darkly gothic.

Opener ‘Torn Away’ rides along on a synth driven riff then settles on Stanne’s mellifluous baritone into a wonderfully melodic chorus. It’s simple and catchy and a great way to start. ‘In Darkness’ has a synth widdle at the front before a simply superb chugging riff from Markus Vanhala allows the synths to wash over you. It’s Stanne and a bright piano on the verse before the rest join in on that wonderful riff but just wait for the bridge and the chorus which are both sublime before a searing solo from Vanhala. Current single ‘Violent Storm’ grooves away on another choppy riff and the synths adding colour behind as Brandt and Ranta keep it locked nice and tight. Another dark melodic masterpiece ‘Truth Behind The Lie’ brings everything you want – the rhythm section drive it along behind a chugging riff and the keys adding the colour whilst Stanne mesmerises with a stunning vocal melody and they make it sound so easy. Bright keys start ‘When Silence Speaks’ and they’re soon joined by strings synths before Stanne croons on a dark ballad that verges on the epic before ‘The Darkest Night’ ups the pace a bit and we’re off on another simple catchy melody. Here we go with another soon to be classic – ‘Never Look Back’ keeps the simplicity all driven by Brandt’s steady bassline and a quite beautiful vocal from Stanne and some fine guitar work from Vanhala. ‘The Coldest Heart’ takes a few listens but once you get it there it stays then ‘Anomalie’ rides on another simple line from Brandt and Vanhala and could be a single. Final cut ‘Alone Together’ goes epic as it builds on the keys slowly and gently before developing into a mid-paced semi ballad full of dark passion, sorrow and angst.

What a superb record, an acquired taste maybe, but what these guys have created is just beautiful and a world away from what most of them do. Once again, the Swedes uncanny knack of melody is stunning , and the songs are world class so much so that any of them could be a single. I cannot rate this highly enough and it’s gone straight to top of my albums of 2024 – absolute perfection.

Track List –

1 – Torn Away

2 – In Darkness

3 – Violent Storm

4 – Behind The Lie

5 – When Silence Speaks

6 – The Darkest Night

7 – Never Look Back

8 – The Coldest Heart

9 – Anomalie

10 – Alone Together