While 2024 brought us the revival of silky, smooth gothic metal inspired by The Sisters of Mercy and Type O Negative, 2025 returns us to the heavier sounds of gothic doom/death metal. Pioneered by bands like Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride and Theatre of Tragedy, this genre brings us crushing riffs, a ton of melancholy and a dynamic vocal approach. One of the bands keeping the genre alive is Aeonian Sorrow, who have been around since 2015. The Greek/Finnish band have released two full-length and an EP so far, gradually improving themselves and building their name in the scene.
Their new EP is called "From the Shadows", which is another step forward for the band around singer, songwriting, lyricist and visual artist Gogo Melone. It seems like Aeonian Sorrow are like a fine wine, growing tastier as the years go by, maturing with each release. Stylistically, there aren't too many surprises here: the band stay true to their sound, which provides references to renowned bands like Draconian, Swallow the Sun and My Dying Bride. This is the classic gothic doom/death metal sound, with 'beauty and the beast' vocals, and a good mix of crushing heaviness and melancholic atmospheres.
As you can expect, there is very little happiness here, but there is plenty of beauty in the gloomy sound of Aeonian Sorrow. All four songs are true gems, with the brilliant closing track Mist of Oblivion as the icing on the cake. While the musicianship and production quality are great on this EP, I must specifically express my appreciation for Gogo Melone. With her wonderful vocals, she takes the music to another level, adding the necessary melody and refinement to make the songs truly memorable. If the trend of continuous improvement progresses, the next Aeonian Sorrow album should become a genre classic. Until then, there is plenty to enjoy on "From the Shadows".
Their new EP is called "From the Shadows", which is another step forward for the band around singer, songwriting, lyricist and visual artist Gogo Melone. It seems like Aeonian Sorrow are like a fine wine, growing tastier as the years go by, maturing with each release. Stylistically, there aren't too many surprises here: the band stay true to their sound, which provides references to renowned bands like Draconian, Swallow the Sun and My Dying Bride. This is the classic gothic doom/death metal sound, with 'beauty and the beast' vocals, and a good mix of crushing heaviness and melancholic atmospheres.
As you can expect, there is very little happiness here, but there is plenty of beauty in the gloomy sound of Aeonian Sorrow. All four songs are true gems, with the brilliant closing track Mist of Oblivion as the icing on the cake. While the musicianship and production quality are great on this EP, I must specifically express my appreciation for Gogo Melone. With her wonderful vocals, she takes the music to another level, adding the necessary melody and refinement to make the songs truly memorable. If the trend of continuous improvement progresses, the next Aeonian Sorrow album should become a genre classic. Until then, there is plenty to enjoy on "From the Shadows".
For fans of: Draconian, Swallow the Sun, My Dying Bride
Release date: 31/03/2025
Released by: Aeonian Sorrow
Bandcamp: https://aeoniansorrow.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-shadows
Released by: Aeonian Sorrow
Bandcamp: https://aeoniansorrow.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-shadows
