Taking shape nearly nineteen years ago, Dark the Suns is one of Finland’s finest Metal bands. Initially a solo project of Mikko Ojala, soon a full band would form, and Dark the Suns made a very big impression in 2007 with the debut album In Darkness Comes Beauty. Filled with lovely piano strokes, a melancholy atmosphere, and Melodic Death Metal stylings, it was a lush hybrid some would like to call Gothic Metal. A very expansive term to use, and one that can include many different style bands, in Dark the Suns’ case it means richly melodic music joined with Heavy Metal guitars, harsh vocals of Mikko, all offset by angelic ones by Inka Ojala. Now a husband-and-wife partnership, the two are the only original members of the band through the years, however, they welcomed in new Guitarist Jani Moilanen earlier in 2023. Together as a trio they joined to create the band’s latest album, Raven and the Nightsky.
Coming two years after Dark the Sun’s 2021 comeback record Suru raivosi sydämeni pimeydessä, after a seven-year long hiatus of any new albums, it seems as if creative sparks are flying once more. Looking back a moment, Suru raivosi sydämeni pimeydessä came over a decade after 2010’s Sleepwalking in a Nightmare, or the 2011’s singles to follow, and it was really quite a compelling listen. Sounding fresh, energized, and very much like Dark the Suns, Raven and the Nightsky also has similar vibes.
Released on September 29th through Inverse Records, it seems inspiration from the Suru raivosi sydämeni pimeydessä writing sessions poured over, because new songs off their latest album emerged rapidly in March of 2022. First doing so with “Kun Allot Kallioihin Murtuu,” to follow, in December of last year was “Aurora.” This was before “Phoenix,” “Raven” (featuring Before the Dawn’s Paavo Laapotti), and “Swans of the Frozen Waters” trickled out in 2023. All exceptional, fortunately Dark the Suns did not tip their hand too much, because even though they had already put out five songs… there is still so much more depth to be found on Raven and the Nightsky.
Blanketed in a very dark atmosphere, this album finds Mikko’s vocals a bit more upfront in the mix, while Ojala adds a haunting ambience around it all. Furthermore, this album feels a bit more ominous in mood in many regards. This is not to say that it does not possess the wall of sound that is signature to Dark the Suns, it just feels as if each song has been given a little extra room to let things breathe. With more empty spaces here and there, the approach is effective, because some aspects of the music sink in a little deeper.
This all taken into consideration, the listening experience of Raven and the Nightsky only builds as it moves along. Some of the most enchanting moments along this journey would have to be the extremely Funeral Doom Metal leaning “Kun Allot Kallioihin Murtuu,” “Aurora,” and the absolutely stunning “Raven.” Looking at “Raven” a bit more, this song strikes a nerve with the lyric’s sentiment matched with the additional clean singing of Laapotti. Beyond this, other must listen songs include the “Swans of the Frozen Waters,” “Sea of Sorrow,” but also “Under the Northern Lights.”
In the end, Dark the Suns have managed to create an album that is stunningly blackened yet still dancing with delicate textured. Drenched of the whispers, full-bodied growls, and other celestial vocal tones, Raven and the Nightsky is yet another masterpiece that lingers in a state of nightmare and euphoria. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Dark the Sun’s latest efforts 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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