Serenity
Codex Atlanticus
Napalm Records
2016
This is somewhat weird as Serenity seem to part ways with Clementine (ex-VOA) as the band wishes to go back to their roots of having no female vocalist in their ranks. This is a bit bizarre as she worked quite fine in “War of Ages” as Bathory and her small cameo on the previous Myrath album was also inspired. At any rate, the vocals are again back to Georg Neuhauser, a decent but not amazing, rather generic singer and the band continues in its complex symphonic metal.
There are a number of songs that stand out, ie the pretty fantastic “Iniquity”, “My Final Chapter” and “The Order” but overall most of the album is spent in this symphonic metal with “rounded” male vocals that’s OK, but not great, as the style leans towards what they were just doing previously, way more. Those who were fans already, will still be fans, while if you‘ve lived without them, you can probably go on, without feeling that you‘re missing too much.
There are a number of songs that stand out, ie the pretty fantastic “Iniquity”, “My Final Chapter” and “The Order” but overall most of the album is spent in this symphonic metal with “rounded” male vocals that’s OK, but not great, as the style leans towards what they were just doing previously, way more. Those who were fans already, will still be fans, while if you‘ve lived without them, you can probably go on, without feeling that you‘re missing too much.