The northern phoenix rises again – review of “Cold Flare Eternal” by Before The Dawn

Sign me up whenever there is some good melodic death metal to review! And well, I wouldn’t miss at all the upcoming Before The Dawn‘s album “Cold Flare Eternal”, to be released at the beginning of September. Tuomas Saukkonen and mates have prepared something fresh, new and authentic, so let’s dive in.

What immediately hit me about “Cold Flare Eternal” is the palpable sense of camaraderie that pulses through every track. This is a true band effort, with Saukkonen stepping back to focus solely on rhythm guitars and drums while allowing his bandmates to flourish. And this group is one for the dreams (at least mine!).

Vocalist Paavo Laapotti commands with renewed vigor, guitarist Juho Räihä weaves intricate melodic tapestries, bassist Pyry Hanski provides thunderous foundation work, and keyboard player Saku Moilanen adds atmospheric depth that elevates the Nordic mystique. The production, mixing and mastering give an ideal balance between raw power and crystalline clarity.

My favorite track has to be “Flame Eternal“, but it was a tough call because most of the songs are layered and I connected with them very much. In this case, devastation aids in reconstruction; the improved version of themselves to create something even more resilient. The band has the ability to unleash mayhem while maintaining perfect control of their creativity; this is the dramatic contrast that makes “Cold Flare Eternal” so captivating.

Before The Dawn is at their strongest with “Cold Flare Eternal” — the sound is heavier, more unified, and also more emotionally impactful than ever. So get ready for September 5th, because while it is technically still summer, a cold flame will possess everyone listening to this album.

Tracklist:

1. Initium
2. Fatal Design
3. As Above, So Below
4. Mercury Blood
5. Stellar Effect
6. Flame Eternal
7. Stronghold
8. Destination
9. Shock Wave
10. Ad Infinitum