Album Review: Lightlorn – The Ebb and Flow of Galactic Tides (Rogue Planet Records)

Swedish atmospheric black metallers Lightlorn released their new album, The Ebb and Flow of Galactic Tides on the 6th of March via their own Rogue Planet Records.

Formed in Gothenburg in 2021, Lightlorn self-released their debut EP These Nameless Worlds in 2022 receiving much acclaim from the metal press and catching the attention of Black Lion Records. That label helped them push out their debut full length album, the excellent  At One with the Night Sky in 2023. At One with the Night Sky was also highly acclaimed and appeared on several AOTY lists including our own. Since then, Lightlorn has undergone significant change: the former duo is now a trio, with founder Renwar joined by drummer Antagonist and bassist Robert.

Lightlorn kept the momentum going though and quickly established the new line up with the release of singles Noctalgia and To Dream of Distant Stars through 2025. Continuing their evolution, Lightlorn also look to become self sufficient with the establishing of their own label, Rogue Planet Records, where the new album, The Ebb and Flow of Galactic Tides, is released.

Talking about the new album, Lightlorn state:

“The Ebb and Flow of Galactic Tides is an extension of the Lightlorn sound that we’ve become known for, but it has evolved, and we have explored new avenues in terms of songwriting. Working as a three piece has been conducive to our creativity, and we are very proud of the songs and the album as a whole. Overall, it’s heavier than the debut, with more varied songs, but it’s still unmistakably Lightlorn.”

Lightlorn is Renwar on vocals, guitars, piano and keys with Antagonist on drums and backing vocals and Robert on bass.

While I would normally jump straight into the review here, I must quickly add the story/narration that comes with the album as I absolutely adored the writing of it, so here goes:

Aeons after the Universe was spat forth from the unknowable nothingness of pre-existence, upon a small, rocky world orbiting an unremarkable G-type main-sequence star located within an arm of an unexceptional spiral galaxy, a carbon-based organism experienced the emergence of consciousness; ergo, the Universe became self-aware. The organized chaos and entropy to which all matter necessarily succumbs notwithstanding, these ill-fated creatures rage against the inevitability of their demise.
They love, hope and dream, and they kill, destroy and wage war; they erect ageless, towering monuments and build vessels to carry them to the stars at which their species has gazed for millennia.

Although they are vast in number, each one feels itself unique, extraordinary. With myriad aspirations, desires and fears, these life forms persevere through the most arduous adversity, with an immutable yearning to be part of something greater than themselves, but rarely comprehending the true marvel of their existence – despite its bewildering improbability. Generation upon generation they proliferate, evolve, and philosophize, seldom recognizing that all they are, all they know, and all they ever will be, is solely contingent on the ebb and flow of galactic tides…

I love that, and I am very excited to get stuck into this 6-track album, which gets underway with Emergent Chaos. It takes next to no time at all to feel fully back in the Lightlorn world, remembering their mastery of atmosphere and their ability to combine some pretty nasty, heavy black metal with melody that takes you out of your world and into theirs. The riffs hit hard, the drums are intense, and the bass shakes you to your core. Vocals rip and snarl, buried in the mix, adding a traditional touch. By not having them front and centre, it almost feels like the human element isn’t the most important part, which works well with the concept.

Within the measured chaos, the lead guitars blaze with melody, and shifts in pace bring a slightly disconcerting, disorienting feel, adding to the story and atmosphere. That’s pushed further in the slowed section, where clear, ringing guitars and keys add layers and depth, lulling you in before it all comes back to drown you in chaos as it closes. It’s a blistering and brilliant start.

The Imponderable Space Between Universes is brilliant. It is so heavy at the start, you feel a little taken aback but as the guitars join in adding melody over the chaos, it starts making sense and becomes quite hypnotising, even when at it’s heaviest. I really like how the production sits just outside of polished. It’s not exactly raw, but there is dissonance which suits the style and the cosmic feel. Speaking of that cosmic touch, when the keys come in allowing a moment of respite, you find yourself swaying, completely and utterly invested in the music and the feel of the song.

A Phantom in Endless Night is another stunning track. It’s everything you want from atmospheric black metal—expansive, ethereal, emotional, heavy, beautiful, soft, and vicious. I love the clarity of the guitars, the embedded vocals, and how the shifts in pace and aggression pull you around like waves in the ocean. It’s the longest track on The Ebb and Flow of Galactic Tides (around eight and a half minutes), giving Lightlorn plenty of space to stretch their sound. The time flies by, which is always a sign of quality with longer tracks. The melodies here are exceptional, and credit to the drummer—an absolute beast.

I Carry Galaxies, featuring Flo V. Schwarz of the German band Pyogenesis, sees Lightlorn change the style and pace a touch with a clever track. It’s not a drastic shift—don’t worry, the riffs, bass, drums, and vocals still rip—but there’s an added catchiness here. The atmosphere stays, with driving melodies and moments that are seriously heavy, balanced by more thoughtful, cosmic passages. Subtle clean sounds, clean singing, and little touches of genius appear across the track.

The rock-leaning guitar section near the end leads into the main featured artist section, where cleaner vocals, rolling drums, and some wonderful backing keys take over. On paper, it sounds like it could be out of place, but it isn’t—it works really well. It’s a clever song, very well written, and shifts just enough to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go again with Superluminal.

No surprise—this song is a highlight. Lightlorn continue to deliver music that thrives on contrast, moving from passages of black metal extremity into an intensely satisfying rhythm section with catchy drums and thick bass lines, backed by a short blast of keys and effects. The break lets those keys lift you into the stars before pulling you back in. The guitars ring out clean and clear, the bass builds, and the drums increase their emphasis before the vocals rip back in, shaking you from that hypnotic state. Those moments—the transitions and contrasts—are really impactful.

All good things must come to an end, and The Ebb and Flow of Galactic Tides closes with Eternal Recurrence of the Same. On an album full of emotional weight, this track leans more introspective, opening with softened keys and whispered vocals. The guitar melody soon arrives—crisp and clear—ringing out as the vocals rise in intensity and the drums kick in. The bass joins, and we’re immediately pulled into a whirlwind of metal that’s heavy, yet still stays thoughtful and reflective.

The interplay between light and dark, a hallmark of Lightlorn’s art, shines through again as the song moves from heavier passages into a more rhythmic section with tapping drums, muted guitars, and keys, before the chaos returns to shake you back to life. As the track—and the album—fades out gently, returning to the softened style of the intro, you’re left with your thoughts, reflecting on the journey you’ve just experienced.

In conclusion, The Ebb and Flow of Galactic Tides is a very strong album. Lightlorn balance dark and light effectively, using contrasts to keep the music engaging. The writing is thoughtful, the flow feels natural, and each moment—whether heavy, melodic, or introspective—lands with impact. It’s an album that draws the listener in and holds attention throughout and much like their first album, this is bound to be another one to score highly in those Album of the Year lists at the end of 2026.

Grab your copy of The Ebb and Flow of Galactic Tides from Lightlorn on Bandcamp, here.

Track List:

1. Emergent Chaos

2. The Imponderable Space Between Universes

3. A Phantom in Endless Night

4. I Carry Galaxies (feat. Flo V. Schwarz of Pyogenesis)

5. Superluminal

6. Eternal Recurrence of the Same

Lightlorn Links

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