Norway’s GREEN CARNATION are no strangers to fresh beginnings and relentless perseverance in the face of challenges.
Set for release on September 5 via Season of Mist, “A Dark Poem, Part I: The Shores of Melancholia” marks the band’s return with a bold new chapter — the first in a trilogy that promises to captivate longtime followers, especially those who hold the epic Light of Day, Day of Darkness close to heart. The Shores of Melancholia strikes a balance between two worlds: it carries an immediate emotional weight while hinting at something deeper and more ambitious unfolding within GREEN CARNATION’s ever-evolving artistic vision.
“I think it is right to say we are returning to a long-form storytelling like ‘Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness’,” begins GREEN CARNATION’s vocalist Kjetil Nordhus, “but just done in a totally different way. It is not feasible to try and copy ourselves by doing another hour-long song or anything. It has already been done. But on the levels of epic-ness and storytelling I feel that ‘A Dark Poem’ certainly has those elements, within a three-album frame.”
“The Shores of Melancholia” is an album that’s bound to resonate with both longtime GREEN CARNATION fans and newcomers alike. It kicks off with a powerful one-two punch, delivering two standout tracks that channel the catchy, rock-driven energy of the band’s Blessing in Disguise era. Both “As Silence Took You” and “In Your Paradise” are rich in melody, anchored by memorable hooks and soaring choruses that usher listeners into the band’s refreshed, heavier sound with confidence and style.
The band’s bassist and songwriter Stein Roger, explains: “‘A Dark Poem’ is a collection of songs that explore feelings of alienation in existential questions and down to the very inner self. The first part of the trilogy throws the listener into these questions from the first song. We hope to keep the audience trapped in there with us until the last second of the third album. The albums do vary in style, but always with the same basis. If we manage to keep the audience trapped within each album, we will manage to keep the audience trapped throughout the trilogy, which would be a great achievement.”
“Me My Enemy” begins with a slow burn, built around a spacey, jazz-fusion-inspired groove from drummer Jonathan Alejandro Perez, paired with an irresistibly smooth bass line from Roger. It’s one of the album’s lyrical highlights, with Kjetil Nordhus delivering what may be his most powerful vocal performance on the entire record. The song’s moody, melancholic atmosphere stands in sharp contrast to “The Slave That You Are” — a raw, aggressive nod to GREEN CARNATION’s underground roots, featuring a fierce guest appearance from ENSLAVED’s Grutle Kjellson.
Elsewhere, the album’s title track feels mysterious and moody, a song with a vibe that matches the evocative cover art from former DARK TRANQUILITY guitarist Niklas Sundin. “The Shores Of Melancholia” retains a chorus that’s striking and dynamic, thanks to the subtle keyboard playing of Kenneth Silden. Finally, “Too Close To The Flame” brings the album to a fittingly grand finale, clocking in at nearly 10 minutes, with some of the album’s most progressive arrangements. At the same time, however, the song breezes by with a natural sense of song craft that’s sure to make GREEN CARNATION fans want to replay their journey to “The Shores Of Melancholia” from the very beginning.
Track listing:
01. As Silence Took You (7:12)
02. In Your Paradise (7:04)
03. Me My Enemy (7:17)
04. The Slave That You Are (feat. Grutle Kjellson of ENSLAVED) (6:16)
05. The Shores Of Melancholia (5:38)
06. Too Close To The Flame (9:16)
