METEORA – DISSONANCE

With 'Darkest Light', Dissonance wastes no time establishing its dramatic, gothic atmosphere. METEORA’s hallmark interplay of clean and harsh vocals unfolds with confidence, gaining additional depth through a guest guitar solo by Sirenia’s Nils Courbaron. 'Shadows of Ignorance' emerges as a clear highlight, carried by Noémi Holló’s luminous vocal performance and Atilla Király’s tasteful keyboard arrangements, which lend the song both elegance and emotional reach. The title track, 'Dissonance–My Reality Pt.4', shifts the focus toward a heavier, more confrontational sound, where driving riffs and Máté Fülöp’s commanding harsh vocals inject a darker, more urgent edge into the EP’s sonic narrative. Yet for all its individual highlights, Dissonance reserves its most commanding statement for the closing track. 'Witch Hunt–Tragedy Of Delusion' is nothing short of a tour de force, seamlessly weaving together every facet of METEORA’s sound. From soaring symphonic arrangements to crushing riff-driven passages, from hauntingly pure vocals to dark, imposing growls, the song demonstrates the band’s mastery of dynamic contrast and layered storytelling. It pushes the boundaries of symphonic metal, creating an atmosphere at once grandiose, tense, and emotionally immersive. Rather than offering a tidy conclusion, this finale opens a window onto METEORA’s future, hinting at creative avenues still to be explored. Even as the trilogy of EPs reaches its narrative and musical climax, the band leaves listeners with a sense of anticipation: Dissonance is both a culmination of what METEORA has achieved and a bold proclamation of what they are yet capable of. It’s a fitting end that excites as much as it satisfies, ensuring the EP lingers long after the final notes fade.

Once again, recording engineer Balázs Pálfi (Türböwitch, etc.) and the mixing and mastering team—Nino Helfrich (Thrash Cult, Traces Of A Life), Dmitry Kim (Khors, Arhat), and Joel Wanasek (Machine Head, Carnation, Dååth)—have worked their magic, imbuing Dissonance with a clarity and energy that illuminates every layer of Meteora’s compositions. The evocative cover art by Dronicon Films (Swallow The Sun, Katatonia, October Tide) perfectly complements the music’s grandeur. Released by H-Music on January 23rd, Dissonance coincided with the launch of Darkest Light, the full-length album that collects all tracks from In This Silence, Broken Mind, and Dissonance into a single, breathtaking experience. Together, they mark both a culmination and a new beginning for Meteora’s symphonic metal journey.As with their earlier EPs, Meteora showcase their boundless musical ambition on Dissonance, crafting compositions that are intricate, cinematic, and richly layered. While the EP rarely delivers a single, unforgettable hook that seizes the listener’s attention, it more than makes up for this with sheer scope and emotional depth. In fact, the final installment arguably surpasses its immediate predecessor, standing shoulder to shoulder with the opening chapter of the trilogy in terms of creativity and impact.

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SCORE 8/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY