Review CEMETERY SKYLINE “Nordic Gothic”

I was looking forward to this debut with real excitement as the lead single “In Darkness” was and is a great song that creates a lot of anticipation when it comes to the very first album from Cemetery Skyline.

The band is the brainchild of Markus Valhalla (Insomnium / Omnium Gatherum) and he has found some great bandmates to join him in this musical endeavor. Keyboarder Santeri Kallio, drummer Vesa Ranta, bassist Victor Brandt and vocalist Mikael Stanne are well-known names in the Scandinavian melodic death metal ecosystem.

The guys often toured together with their mothership bands and/or became friends over time. With Cemetery Skyline, the quintet starts a new musical outfit that has not too much in common with melodic death metal. Actually, it’s not death metal at all, as the gothic roots blossom in black on “Nordic Gothic”.

The first thing you notice are the vocals. We all know that Michael Stanne also has a great clean voice, but this is the first album where he sings instead of growling. The result is fantastic and just as good as his growling. I would even go so far as to say that he creates an even more intense atmosphere on “Nordic Gothic”, starting with the opener “Torn Away”.

Located somewhere in between bands like Sisters Of Mercy and Type O negative, the quintet kicks off the album with a true anthem. The song has a built-in addictive factor, and since it is followed by the aforementioned “In Darkness”, you get even more attached to this album.

The throbbing rhythm, the keyboard sound, together with a great riff and an exceptional chorus make this song one of the best I have heard in 2024. It’s a catchy metal track that you can’t get out of your mind anymore.

Working on an album like “Nordic Gothic” could be like entering uncharted territory, as the sound of Cemetery Skyline is different from what the guys have done before. Yet, in taking on this self-imposed musical challenge, they have masterfully navigated the realms of gothic rock and metal, music that combines melancholy, darkness and catchiness.

There is the dramatic “Behind The Lie”, which is a great piece, followed by the dark and cinematic “When Silence Speaks”. These songs also reflect the range of music when it comes to the album. Though rooted in gothic rock/metal, Cemetery Skyline take things to the next level by creating a wistful atmosphere that never lacks hope and sunrays that illuminate the darkness.

The bass line that kicks off “The Coldest Heart” brings the impact of Type O Negative to the surface, and the way the song is arranged with its pounding rhythm is very reminiscent of Pete Steel and the NYC metal legend.

The guys shift gears with “Anomalie” before “Alone Together” heralds the album’s grand finale. In more than seven minutes, the five-piece wraps up their debut album in style.

Expectations for the debut album were very high and Cemetery Skyline certainly lives up to them. Five very experienced musicians have come together to create music they love. It is this passion and commitment that results in breathtaking songs. This record definitely has the wow factor.