Album Review: Lord of the Lost – OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 (Napalm Records)

Lord of the Lost will release OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, the second part of the trilogy, on December 12th, 2025, via Napalm Records.

I enjoyed OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 more than I thought I would (read the review here), and while I do like a lot of OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, I must admit to finding some of what is on offer here, fairly pedestrian. Nothing bad, so to speak, but with a few tracks that are utterly forgettable, even if Lord of the Lost’s ability to sound so opulent never fails to impress. It is one of the major takeaways of the album, alongside the varied collaborations, and makes Lord of the Lost special.

Which they are, they really are, regardless of my criticisms of this album as I do think the fanbase will eat this record up. For me though? This whole trilogy thing is beginning to look like quantity over quality. Case in point, an opener that fails to spark much passion and if it wasn’t for my love of synth, I’d have forgotten it the moment it ended.

Whereas that one left a slightly sour taste in my mouth, the next couple got things on track for me. First, there is the delightful gothic anthem that is Would You Walk with Me Through Hell? A track that features the incredible talents of Infected Rain’s Lena Scissorhands. Then there is One of Us Will Be Next, a sweet-sounding track that oozes emotion and is delivered with conviction. Before Walls of Eden’s thumping beat gets the feet tapping, the fingers rapping, and the head banging along. I like these tracks even if there’s nothing that remarkable here.

On the flip side, I can’t complain about the album lacking variety and not come away somewhat impressed by the lively Raveyard. A track that features Käärijä and delivers one of the album’s most danceable choruses and animated breakdowns. Easily one of the more unique collaborations, alongside a latter one with IMAX. Where the artist links up with Lord of the Lost to create something with flair and drama. Resulting in something quite potent and memorable. The chorus, in particular, is huge sounding.

In between those tracks is The Last Star, a track so forgettable, I had to listen to it several times to even write these words. Whereas Winter’s Dying Heart has such a melancholic tone and moodiness to it, I can’t help but love it. It’s an epic track that is Lord of the Lost through and through, and a reminder of how much power this band can have when they really lean into the gloom.

This signifies a shift for me and the latter part of the album ends up having some of my favourite tracks overall. From the glorious synthy sound of Scarlight, a track that blends cool melodies with bursts of rocking energy. To the big gothic anthemic that is Please Break the Silence, a track made all the better because of Anna Brunner’s immense vocals, working with Chris Harm’s voice nicely, giving us a bit of pop duet.

Finally, it’s Sharp Edges and how else would you expect Lord of the Lost to finish off an album, if not with a power ballad? A solid enough closer.

I do like this album; I just don’t like it as much as I liked OPVS NOIR Vol. 1. I can’t help but wonder if it could have been tightened up with the removal of a few ‘meh’ efforts. When it’s good, it’s as good as anything else Lord of the Lost have put out there, but when it’s not, it’s so damn forgettable and that is something this band should never be.

Lord of the Lost – OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 Track Listing:

1. The Fall from Grace
2. Would You Walk with Me Through Hell? (& Infected Rain)
3. One Of Us Will Be Next
4. Walls Of Eden
5. Raveyard (feat. Käärijä)
6. The Last Star
7. What Have We Become (feat. IAMX)
8. Winter’s Dying Heart
9. Scarlight
10. Please Break the Silence (feat. Anna Brunner)
11. Sharp Edges

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