Album Review: Blackbriar – A Thousand Little Deaths (Nuclear Blast)

Tackling themes of love, loss, and death, ‘A Thousand Little Deaths’ is the brand-new album from dark symphonic metal power band, Blackbriar. Out on August 22nd via Nuclear Blast.

Epic and powerful, Blackbriar don’t shake up the dark symphonic metal formula much here but do deliver a captivating album that is filled with fantastical power. Dominated by glorious vocals, it is a record that showcases a band at the top of their game. Even if the opening track isn’t quite the heavy hitter most would like to hear as the first track.

It’s called Bluebeard’s Chamber, and while it is filled with cinematic potency, has a solid chorus and a dark romanticism to it, it doesn’t have much of a hook. In fact, I think the following The Hermit and the Lover should have been the opener. As it’s more vibrant, has a more energised chorus, and is catchier. The blend of thicker and heavier instrumentals and soaring high vocals works so well too.

A genuine album highlight, although there are plenty of those overall, thankfully.

Another being the dynamic sound of The Fossilized Widow, which is Blackbriar at their most bombastic, and My Lonely Crusade, which is a storytelling giant of a track. Even before the album is half done, most will find themselves immersed. Especially as these first few tracks (and what follows) is proof that there’s a fresh focus on being anthemic overall here.

No further proof needed then the dreamy power of Floriography and the melodic pomp of The Catastrophe That Is Us. A pair of accessible hits that have many interesting parts, and keep things focused on the fantastical.

There’s a bit more metal heft to A Last Sigh of Bliss, but once again, the vocals make it so much prettier. Especially as it is a track that is filled with emotion and delivered with the power we’ve come to expect from this band. Then along comes Green Light Across the Bay to refocus things on the chorus, while delivering layers of magnificent melody.

Heavy and melodic, with vocals that are so dreamy, I Buried Us is big and bold, but it’s how it all comes together in the chorus that counts. That’s where we really hear the power of Blackbriar and it’s one of the album’s strongest efforts, especially from a cohesive perspective. Then, finally, it’s Harpy. A track that can be summed up as bombastic and dramatic, which might seem ‘par for the course’ with this album, but this is a more inventive track. It sits on the slower side of things, but the heft of the melody makes it feel heavier and certainly more intense. It ends the album in strong fashion.

I won’t say that I was mesmerised across the entire thing, even though it ends strongly, but I was interested enough to keep on listening on. This is an inspired Blackbriar we are hearing, and their bombastic symphonic style is not just a repeat of other bombastic sounds. They’ve found their sound and style, and even more people are going to take note.

Blackbriar – A Thousand Little Deaths Track Listing:

1. Bluebeard’s Chamber
2. The Hermit and the Lover
3. The Fossilized Widow
4. My Lonely Crusade
5. Floriography
6. The Catastrophe That Is Us
7. A Last Sigh of Bliss
8. Green Light Across the Bay
9. I Buried Us
10. Harpy

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