Cemetery Skyline – Nordic Gothic [Things You Might Have Missed 2024]

When members of Dark Tranquillity, Amorphis, Omnium Gatherum, Dimmu Borgir, and Sentenced come together to record a Goth rock album, people take notice. That’s exactly what happened when Cemetery Skyline hit the streets this October with their Nordic Gothic debut. A project overflowing with talent, this Scandinavian collective stirred hopes for good things, and by and large, good things were delivered. Nordic Gothic is 100% pure Goth rock and it’s consistently earwormy and hard-driving with knowing nods to Sister of Mercy, The Cult, and Fields of Nephilim, as well as more metalized acts like Type O Negative, and To Die For. That means there’s just enough of a harder edge to offset the weepy Goth aesthetics and keep things bold and badass. That’s a big win for the sadbois!

With the always excellent Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity) on the mic, Nordic Gothic takes you from one hooky Goth rocker to another. Cuts like opener “Torn Away” and the excellent “In Darkness” suck you in to the album’s polished, dark mood, and huge ear candy numbers like “Behind the Lie” make sure you don’t get away. The level of writing and attention to detail is impressive and the whole package plays out like a sleek release crafted by Goth scene vets. The supergroup ensemble acquits itself very well along the way, creating gloomy, grey textures and backdrops for Stanne to paint on with his plaintive clean vocals. The album is blessed by a killer pair of opening cuts, but later tracks like “Never Look Back” and “Anomalie” also have strong legs and big hooks. I have the chorus of the former percolating through my brain at least once a day and I may need to consult a mental health professional if this continues. Lest they fall too far into olde Goth idioms, Cemetery Skyline throw some curveballs at the listener. “The Coldest Heart” sounds like Faith No More trying to mimic Type O Negative and its slightly jazzy swing struggles amusingly against its intrinsic Goth glumness. Even the mega-sullen, uber-morose 7-plus minute closer “Alone Together” hits the sadz bone and avoids feeling too languid.

Of course, the star of the show is Mr. Stanne. Completely removed from his death metal background, he spreads his wings and soars vocally, showing depth and versatility. He’s always been good at cold, Gothy vocal tricks but he elevates his game across Nordic Gothic and shows just how much he’s grown as a singer over the years. Markus Vanhala (Omnium Gatherum, Insomnium) finds the sweet spot between sulky Goth noodling and more forceful riffage. His playing provides ample Goth flavor but never entirely lets you forget that there’s a bunch of hardened metal maniacs behind it all. An excellent job by all involved.

Nordic Gothic is a great album for winter rumination. It will bum you out but rock your ass, thereby finding a near-perfect equipoise. It’s one of the rare “supergroup” projects that fully delivers on its promise and you’ll be impressed by how well these metal cats turn to emo soundscapes. If you love classic Goth rock, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here. If you aren’t a Goth-head, check it out anyway. It just might be The Cure for what ails you.

Tracks to Check Out: “In Darkness,” “Behind the Lie,” “Never Look Back”



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