On This Rock I Will Build My Church kicks off this epic masterpiece, with a scream, and the pounding riffs, it sets the tempo for the album, the riffs move into sludge and pounding rhythms, bringing anger and rage to the fore. Loreley is next, bringing in some haunting elements, the guitars are in the background and the vocals take the main lead here, bringing power and darkness to the fore. Black Halo has a orchestral beginning, it then gets heavier and moves into a swagger, bringing energy and power forward. The vocals are powerful, stories are brought forward in a most compelling way. In Our Hands pounds and shimmers, breaking through elements of real and unreal, and dancing all the way through, harmonising and producing the perfect synth song. Morgana jaunts and dances through elements, and provides an interesting contrast to previous songs, this one will be a definitive favourite live. Haythor is brutal, monstruous and gruelling at the same time, a song that reminds the listener of Type O Negative. Naxxar is heavy, with some surreal feels to it, especially in the atmospheric creations built within the instrumentation. The vocals are absolutely spot on, pounding, aggressive and haunting.
Cut Me Out starts with some pretty heavy breathing, before putting the vocals centre field, filled with agony, and anger, with some glimmer of hope, epic. The Mortarian pounds and grooves, slithering through the age, and ensuring that the listener is kept hooked from the get go. Under The Sun is industrial, grooving and slithering in equal measure, providing energy and power. In Darkness, In Light is thunderous and dark. Forevermore is softer, lighter, with the piano leading the way in shaping and creating the right atmosphere for the band to get completely rocking. Ruins is thunderous and pounding, dark and primordial, a true brutal song.
Abracadabra comes in next, and is very different, very much like a club song, pounding synths, before the guitars come pounding in and creating all sorts of havoc and chaos. Brilliantly executed. Voodoo Doll comes in with a synth introduction before turning into something quite exciting, thundering and powerful. The Art Of Love is like a siren call, powerful, thunderous and definitely dark, the guitars reflect that, the instrumentation reflects that. Lily Of the Vale is downright different and prophetic, heavy and grooving.
Penta growls, snarls and really is filled with some dark kinetic energy that keeps things interesting and driving throughout. Free Radicals is pounding, ethereal and dark. Live Pray, Die Repeat is pounding, snarling and a roaring conclusion to this massive album.
Thornstar is out 3rd August via Napalm Records.