Artist: Vesperian Sorrow
Album: Awaken The Greylight
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Release Date: April 26 2024
On the grand pantheon of symphonic black metal bands, few have carved as distinctive a niche as Austin, Texas’ own Vesperian Sorrow. Delving even further into the cosmic and gothic territories which have defined their very personal niche within the genre, with the latest opus “Awaken The Greylight. The artwork for the album is designed by the very talented Caelan Stokkermans. The album continues being a decisive fifth entry in the discography, which is out to weave the tales of prior albums into some grand narrative saga.
Its members are Christopher Nunez (Drums/Keys), Will Rohirrim (Guitars), Orlando Logan Olivero (Vocals), and Gabe Reyes (Bass). Their lineup brings forth a powerful, monumentally detailed sound when they come together. Overall, top-notch musicianship is presented so that all members have an expanded and enriched sonic pallet for music.
“Awaken The Greylight” is more than an album—it’s an epic mythic hero journey into the very heart of a dark, gothic, science fiction fantasy universe. This is a band purporting to revive the melodic, extreme metal heart that thrived in the ’90s and offering just that, with a skilled blend of aggression and melody, backed by symphonic arrangements that would seem to underline their storytelling.
The narrative scope of this album is nothing if not ambitious, discussing the era of Suuhlia and the strife that follows, ripping apart the world. From the construction of a new world on the ruin of the old, there awakens a new life form, and from there grows a conflict—very bitter in the universe.
Works such as “As The Pillars Were Raised” and “Awaken the Greylight” are episodes that showcase this band’s epic expertise, which is able to make a huge piece seem both moving and engulfing. “An Epistle To The Prime Vivified” and “They Beheld the Chainbreaker’s Crowning Defiance” find the band at the apex of its abilities, with this sort of confluence of narrative and musicality, each propelling the storyline forward without ever flagging in the strength of either the narrative or in the need to keep the reader moving.
The album dives into themes deeply, both cosmically, sorrowfully, and darkly, lyrically far from the classic black metal clichés toward something much more original and provoking. The stories that run through the tracks are bright, imaginative, and painted what can only be described as a vision from the mind of the band. Overall Impression With “Awaken the Greylight,” Vesperian Sorrow solidifies a place not only within the symphonic black metal genre but seemingly pushes the envelope on what can be accomplished within it.
The album is a massive success, amalgamating a sound the band is known for with a brazen, sprawling narrative bound to ensnare any listener from end to end. “Awaken the Greylight” will be essential listening for their fans and absolutely necessary by those uninitiated to get to know them, as it delivers proof of Vesperian Sorrow’s ability to remain spontaneously creative yet evolve and change. This album is not just a collection of songs; it’s an experience, one that is as unforgettable as it is immersive.
