HEAVENFALL - THORN

Drawn from personal experiences and self-analysis, Thorn is a very honest album with some very thoughtful lyrics and meaning behind them. There is poetry in the melancholy, an introspective look on concepts such as yearning to belong, time, masking and how the world can affect individuals as a whole.

‍

Leading the band through this journey of self-discovery is vocalist Dest, a strong vocalist with a sustaining voice, assertive and full of heart. The strength in which he delivers his vocals tells a genuine, gritty story. “Squall-led” shows that strength in full, “Lingering Under the Acid Rain” and “The Wind Chimes Garden” has a delicate balance between vocals, while “Left Apart” shows some more melancholy with a sharp power-ballad edge. Never does Dest falter in his energy, even in the more quiet moments of the album. “Stramonium” brings out a deep growl that is bound to surprise.

‍

Guitarists are solid throughout Thorn’s tracklist. Opening track “Squall-led” has some interesting technique and plenty of variation in riffs, with shreds and fun solos. “Sudden Zenith” is full of kickass riffs and tapping, giving Heavenfall identity to their sound. Pave and Giò provide guitars on this album and really add to the strength of the sound. The more acoustic intro to “Midnightingale” is gentle and graceful, leading into a reflective piece that creeps in its power as it goes along. The running notes in “The Wind Chimes Garden” break up the song well, creating a consistent pattern. There’s melody, variance and plenty to keep things interesting throughout.

Bassist Nick contributes some mournful, sinister bass in “No Candlelight” and shapes much of the album, giving a lot of the underlying strength to opening song “Squall-led.” Drums are the other side of the same coin, delivering much of the kick to the tracks. They work well in unison on “This Illusion”, full of power and always respectful of the guitar solo moments.

‍

Bonus points to “Ora Pro Nemine” for the legendary re-enactment of an iconic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night scene, on top of having a gothic touch, great lyrics and some hectic drumwork. A highlight of the album.

‍

“Stramonium” ends the album on a high note, with Heavenfall as strong as they entered before delivering a calming outro, its parting gift some last lyrics to ponder upon. It’s a song that encapsulates the personal aspect of Thorn as a whole. It is beautiful, sad and poignant before falling into silence.

‍

After a long break, Heavenfall delivers an adrenaline-filled triumph upon their return by kicking down the door and making their presence known. Clean mixing with lengthy tracks and plenty of oomph, it’s a fun listen while retaining a very expressive and sometimes sorrowful nature, self-aware and personal to the core.

‍

SCORE 9/10

Reviewed by GhostinthearmouR