Novembers Doom went through years of experimenting with styles and sounds. While they were always identifiable, there were consistent variations present in their style. “Major Arcana” is a very mature album and, in some ways, a perfect arrival after years of searching. The record presents a very intelligent equilibrium of sounds, and after several listens, you still want to dig deeper into this music.
“Major Arcana” is also a very reflective album. The connection between the words and the music is very powerful. Paul Kuhr certainly picks his words in such a way that they match the music in heaviness and delicacy. He and the band make it look easy, but the task accomplished here is anything but easy. It’s a very clever record that is full of emotional moments. It does get personal, and you feel the bleeding of its creators.
The album also comes out at the beginning of fall of 2025, when the mood of the surroundings is changing drastically. The music on “Major Arcana” reflects that shift as well. The band invokes the ultimate darkness in their music but also leaves that small crack in everything, and that’s how the light gets in.
“Major Arcana” is a superb album; each spin of this record is eventful and makes the listener ask existential questions. In some ways it feels like therapy. While the music soars and grinds, the lyrics attempt to balance your mental state and perhaps may direct you to discover your own secret. This album delivers the goods on variety of levels.
Mark Kadzielawa
No comments:
Post a Comment