Strange New Dawn - 2023 - New Nights of Euphoria [mini-review]

(52:39; Svart Records)

Norwegian band Strange New Dawn are out with the album "New Nights of Euphoria", and progressive metal is probably the best manner in which to define the landscapes explored on this production. My impression is that it is a fairly bombastic variety of atmospheric laden metal that is something of a foundation here, with massive and majestic arrangements with a distinct atmospheric laden type of arrangement that is the main dominant aspect of the compositions here. We do get a liberal array of ventures into a more intense and extreme metal flavored type of orientation too however, and quite a few dips and side steps into doom metal and traditional heavy metal landscapes too. Possibly with a little bit of thrash metal too. For the progressive side of the experience we also get gentler, dreamladen and acoustic or semi-acoustic sections as a recurring element, some of which include folk music elements, and passages that are a distinct contrast to everything else we find on this album in form, function and execution. So while not a traditional progressive metal album by any means, the progressive spirit is very much present here. A production to seek out for those who enjoy a diverse and somewhat eclectic and very much dramatic and bombastic display of metal with a band that explore this universe with a distinct progressive spirit and approach.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, November 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Strangenewdawnnorway
https://svartrecords.com/