I don't quite remember how I discovered them, but I've been following Opia from their first single. The British/Spanish band have now released their debut album, "I Welcome Thee, Eternal Sleep", by which they firmly establish themselves in the 'gothic doom metal with beauty & the beast vocals' genre. While many reviewers may claim that this niche has been oversaturated, I think it's about time to acknowledge that this situation may have occured over 20 years ago, but nowadays releases are few and far between. Of course, there is always the mighty Draconian, but who else is capable of combining the solemnity of My Dying Bride with the melancholy of Paradise Lost and the gothic aesthetic of Theatre of Tragedy?
Right, that question can be answered with 'Opia'. The band tick all the classic boxes of the genre that they operate in: crushing riffs, slow rhythms and a heavy mood, with lyrics inspired by grief, death and the Victorian age. The two-pronged vocal approach is familiar too, with Tereza Rohelova combining chilled clean vocals with a wicked growl. Obviously, none of this matters when the music fails to impress, but "I Welcome Thee, Eternal Sleep" grabs you by the throat to never let go. Obvious album highlights are 'The Fade' and 'On Death's Door Part II', but the entire album is of very high quality, making this an incredible debut album. Congrats to Opia for kicking things off with such an impressive release in an underappreciated genre!
For fans of: Draconian, Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride
Release Date: 25/04/2025
