The highly acclaimed 2020 album “Under a Godless Veil” incorporated sorrowful elements and conveyed a perfect balance between the softer nuances of gothic death and doom without venturing into new musical landscapes. The vividness and melancholy of these songs leave the listener mesmerized by the compositional song structures and female vocal melodies. The music exudes somberness and a beautiful romantic feel, and the monstrous growling of Anders Jacobsson and Lisa Johansson intertwine in the opening track “I Welcome Thy Arrow”.

The strength and cohesion of the album lie in the use of keyboards, lumbering riffs, and pounding drum beats that sound like hooves. The music drips autumnal gloom wrapped in a melodious atmosphere that permeates the dramatic tempos, and the guitars provide a heart-chilling catharsis. Draconian emphasizes these arrangements in the following song, “The Monochrome Blade”. The gothic elements make this track simultaneously heavy and dynamic, combining crushing death-doom riffs and heavy drumming.

The composition remains steeped in the elegant status. The hypnotic effect of guitars crawls into your skin in the opening moments of “Anima”. Lead guitarist, vocalist, and keyboardist Johan Ericson delivers a spectacular performance, and this definitely makes the track outstanding. The rich palette of lumbering riffs and elegant enchantment, weaving a tapestry of a gothic portrait, is remarkably showcased in crushing moments in “The Face of God”.

The deep booming bass of Daniel Arvidsson complements the pounding drums of Daniel Johansson. The duet is not improvised between the male and female vocals; guttural growls and angelic vocals accentuate doom and gloom, yet the stream continues in a more serene atmosphere on “I Gave You Wings”. This is one of the standout songs that begins with sorrowful vocals, and the sudden heaviness of the drums sets a unique tone for chugging riffs and the tamed brutality.

The breakdowns in some of the songs feature beautiful ambiance with elegant guitar strums and powerful riffs, rendering the song a gloomy atmospheric feel, leading to the instrumental track “Asteria Beneath the Tranquil Sea” which flows perfectly through lush soundscapes; however, Lisa’s vocals are in full effect with the haunting, serene. “Cold Heavens” is dynamic; the song features heavy chugging and sharp vocal tonality.

The guitars play slow to mid-paced doomy riffs, but there is much more talent to imbue the music with effective instrumentation that provides dismal melodrama. Sorrowful melodic guitars are omnipresent throughout the album, which exudes an elegant appeal; each song features heavy guitar work and rich textures. The exultation of grief beautifully echoes with guitar melodies and mid-tempo sections, complemented by lead guitars, while the cinematic effect reminds me of My Dying Bride; the ethereal female vocals will make you fall in love with this album.

The haunting growls of Anders Jacobsson add to the atmosphere and maintain a traditional gothic death metal sound in one of the album’s best songs, “Misanthrope River”. Everything from the morose growls to the gloomy atmosphere weaves elegance and dark luxe, capturing the elements of this track. The music navigates through sorrowful and cinematic landscapes, and the tempo is less oppressive, reminding me of the classic Draconian style.

The album concludes with “Lethe”. A seven-minute epic song is driven by ethereal vocals that soar over a backdrop of lush keyboards, humming bass guitar, and rich atmosphere. The quality here is wonderful, from the monstrous growling that creates an epic aura to the keyboards shimmering through the scale of the composition.

Make no mistake, the Swedes have returned with one of their best outings to date; the brilliant musicianship and gothic death-doom style continue to resound from the bygone gothic era of the 90s.

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