Review: Cemetery Skyline – Nordic Gothic

Cemetery Skyline

Nordic Gothic

Century Media

For someone from Leeds this album strikes a nerve, it’s immediately conjuring images of Sisters Of Mercy and Field Of The Nephilim. This band however isn’t made up of dusty 80s goths it’s a who’s who of Scandinavian metal stalwarts, members and former members of Dark Tranquility, Amorphis, Insomnium and Dimmu Borgir are all present and correct here. On tracks like In Darkness, fans of Him will certainly have something to write love letters to, especially on the future retro anthem in waiting Behind The Lie, which actually reminds me slightly of a guilty Nordic pleasure (whisper it!) A-Ha, i think it’s in the vocal delivery which is pure Nordic charm, and the epic breakdowns, ok I wasn’t quite expecting them. When this album gets itself in full on mode, it’s glorious in all its dark Nordic promise, yes, it’s occasional cheesy but that’s the point it’s unapologetic in its reverence to Razorblade Romances, Manhattan Skylines and Flood lands and I’m onboard for that. It reminds me of snakebite and black and backcombing your hair with soap and people who dance their own dance.

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Reviewed By George Miller