Review BLACKBRIAR ‘A Dark Euphony’

The market for symphonic bands is not an easy one. Nightwish and Epica have been mentioned. Should it be more pop-oriented, then there are bands like Within Temptation and Delain. For the latter, Blackbriar opened in Utrecht in early 2020, which certainly helped the band to establish itself.

At that time there was no debut album, which followed not until 2021 and is called ‘The Cause of Shipwreck’. All the above caught the attention of Nuclear Blast, the label that now releases with ‘A Dark Euphony’ the bands sophomore longplayer.

Blackbriar have recorded eleven songs, which are quite enjoyable. Carried by the gentle and at the same time powerful voice of Zora Cock Blackbriar take the listener into worlds of sound that are beautiful but do not reveal much that is new. Well crafted, Blackbriar cruises through almost 50 minutes of symphonic rock that shines with catchy melodies. Almost cinematic songs like the dark ‘Bloody Footprints in the Snow’ are well done and show the band’s potential. ‘Cicada’ pleases with a good melody line while the gothic-tinged ‘We Make Mist’ adds to a melancholic mood.

Overall, Blackbriar remain true to their success formula on all eleven songs. However, this is exactly where the album’s weak point can be found. Blackbriar’s sound is not much different from that of already established bands. Fans of well-made symphonic rock/metal should certainly give this album a listen. However, ‘A Dark Euphony’ offers altogether too little new and stays too much in the known to challenge the established bands.