Stillborn - Nocturnals

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In a time when Doom/Gothic Metal is empty of new ideas, it’s a matter of courage and love for the genre to keep doing such kind of music. Today, when TYPE O NEGATIVE is laid to rest, LACRIMOSA and TIAMAT aren’t as evident and successful as in the past decade, and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY has ended, and when the genre needs a new strong name to lead Doom/Gothic Metal to another level, it demands bands with courage. We can say that the Swedish veteran STILLBORN could be one name to guide Doom/Gothic Metal. They are active, and released a new album, called “Nocturnals”.

Morbid and melodic, dense and extremely melancholic, their musical insight bit crude than the names written above, but this gives them an extra dose of musical weight, but without tearing apart the gloomy harmonies. To be honest, they play in a way that isn’t difficult to assimilate. Yes, it’s kind of accessible to beginners on Doom/Gothic Metal ways. “Nocturnals” was recorded and mixed at studio Juicy Halftone, in Copenhagen, by the hands of Henrik Stendahl. As I mentioned above, the band prefers something crude and organic, but that didn’t destroy the gloomy atmosphere of their songs. It fits, alghough a clear sound quality would feel better.

Their ten songs are all fine, but some songs are so charming and beautiful that deserves the title of best ones of “Nocturnals”. They are: the darkened beauty and heavy essence of “Dresden”, the slow melancholic and bitter tempos of “Oblivion Reloaded”, the aggressive, slow and greasy “The Animal Within” (very good guitars are presented on this song), the bittersweet melancholic that permeates the accessible “Lorelei”, and the dynamics of the musical arrangements with good vocals heard on “Anathema”.

I hope that STILLBORN can keep up their good work, and become a pillar of their musical genre.

Originality: 8
Songwriting: 10
Memorability: 9
Production: 10