Yet another glorious triumph for modern Melodic Death metal, as German outfit EMPYREAL SORROW unleash a short but sweet EP onto the world in the aftermath of their debut album, Præy last year. This brief wee snippet of Melodeath bluster shows the listening world that the genre is in the rudest of health (and that IN FLAMES does not have a monopoly on the genre - sorry, guys, that hasn't been the case for quite some time...) There is a veritable renaissance in this genre going on at the moment, producing voluminous output over the last few years, hot off the heels of many of the seasoned veterans in the genre (such as AT THE GATES and DARK TRANQUILITY) unveiling brand new material.

Formed as recently as 2019, these guys wasted no time showing off their credentials. Layers upon layers of harmonised guitars and harsh vocals paint a stark and challenging canvass against which tempestuous emotions are splattered. Opening track "Cursed Be The False Promise" demonstrates these traits well, showcasing all the classic hallmarks of truly great Melodic Death metal. "Heartfelt Disease" opens on softer notes, showing the more tender side of the band. Bittersweet melodies play out on guitar until the characteristic Melodeath sound storms back into view. The remainder of the track alternates between these two emotional extremes, to excellent effect.

"No Absolution" opens in an almost Folk metal style, which repeats during the chorus. It's a satisfying melody and no mistake. Melodeath often skirts close to the Folk boundary (just look at some of the very early material of bands like IN FLAMES) and this example suggests this formula is still alive and well and still works! The EP closes with "Night Re-Armoured (LXEKR Remix)", an Industrial remix that... well, it does what that suggests! A stomping good time, if Industrial metal is your thing, whilst still retaining the EMPYREAL SORROW sound that the listener has become accustomed to by this point.

This EP has been masterfully recorded and mixed, the production value really shines through. The many layers audible in the mix can all be heard and blend together to create an exquisite wall of sound. makes for a delightful addition and accompaniment to their debut album. There is much here to enjoy and lots of potential. EMPYREAL SORROW are a band worth keeping in your peripheral vision, as these guys are clearly already masters of their craft.