The band originating from the Blue Mountains Australia Carmeria combine the haunting sounds of Symphonic Metal with the energy of Gothic Rock. They reformed in 2018 with a new line up the band have been on a warpath through the Australian music scene. Released in 2021 their debut album “Advenae” got international acclaim with several music outlets tipping the band to be one of the up and coming new metal acts of the decade. In the summer of 2021/2022 the band went on a nationwide tour which included with a sell out show in their home town capital Sydney.

“Call Forth My Sorrow” opens this second opus with a symphonic intro which then bursts into a full on assault of fast tempo guitar riffs, hard hitting drums, there is dramatic parts vocally with also growling vocals in places, melodic in the chorus. ”A Thousand Winter Rains” more mid paced than the opening track still dark in nature, a bit more mellow vocally in places, the backing vocals make the song more of a melodic gothic track some nice keyboard touches runs, with more growling vocals in parts that ruin the track for me. ”Thorns” is a more a keyboard heavy track more melodic, more of a commercial sounding track which is in the vein of Ghost but still keeping that symphonic/gothic rock sound. This momentum carries on into the next track “Leading The Lyre” maintaining that more commercial sound which is another great track.

”Whispers Of Forgiveness” is a gothic rock ballad some nice acoustic guitar chords blended with some great keyboard work, finally hearing Jordan Van Grae sing with some emotion and simplicity which sound great ,its a shame it is such a short track! Now this album has my attention “Shadow Thrones” and “Immortals” are great symphonic metal tracks dynamic, dramatic and again symphonic & orchestral with the latter having a great catchy chorus. ”Burning Ships” has Emma Louise Nagy on vocal duties for this track in turn she delivers a great ballad with some great vocals, the guitar solo is great, the keyboard touches are superb ,a great powerful melodic chorus, one of the best tracks on the album. “Hoping Heart” has a bit of a gothic 80's pop rock feel to the melody and structure which just flows another great guitar solo injection within this track. "A Vision In Passing” concludes this album some eerie keyboards start the track giving it that dark feel from the start which then breaks into this epic emotional symphonic metal piece particularly in the choruses some great powerful vocals and some great backing harmonies.

Carmeria “Tradegie D' Amour” did not really grab me on the first spin. After listening to the album a few times some tracks did grow on me.. The more commercial tracks to me sounded really melodic which I love, with some catchy choruses. What put me off was some of the growling vocals in some of the tracks, I just felt that they ruined some of the tracks which would have sounded better without them maybe that's just me ?Nevertheless  “Tradegie D' Amour” is a good album in places once you get into it, it just did not give me that wow factor or maintain my attention or interest in parts.