Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Lord of the Lost - Opvs Noir Vol. 2 (2025)
Have I mentioned that Lord of the Lost's current project is a trilogy? Opvs Noir is a series of albums released in just months-long intervals, all that continue their blend of gothic/industrial/symphonic metal. I mean, we won't Vol. 3 until this April, but at least we have the first two volumes. I've already checked out Vol. 1, and now we're gonna explore Vol. 2. Not as varied as their previous album, yet still great...
Frontman Chris "The Lord" Harms, guitarists Pi "π" Stoffers and Benjamin "Benji" Mundigler, bassist Klaas "Class Grenayde" Helmecke, keyboardist Gerrit "Gared Dirge" Heinemann, and drummer Niklas Kahl keep up their talents here. Opvs Noir Vol. 2 is the band's 11th album, and the second part of this ongoing trilogy.
Starting the album is "The Fall From Grace". Unlike the first volume's opener, it starts off gentle in the keys as the rest of the metal instrumentation drifts in smoothly. Chris Harms' vocal sorrow shines especially in the chorus. And in between the second and final choruses is some of the most intense screaming I've heard from him, in perfect contrast with the gothic bliss. "Would You Walk With Me Through Hell?" has the first of several guest vocalists here, Infected Rain vocalist Lena Scissorhands. It's one of the more industrial songs in the album, and the heavier parts are worth moshing to, particularly when there's harsh aggression from both vocalists. After all that massive power, "One Of Us Will Be Next" is a soft ballad with angelic choruses. Then "Walls of Eden" can really get people moving in concerts.
"Raveyard" is an impressive highlight of pure dance-metal fire. I especially enjoy the rapping by Kaarija. Turning up the heaviness is "The Last Star", the verses are soft so that all the energy is used in the chorus. Sadly, some of the vocals don't hit as hard as in other songs. More of the dark fury is covered in "What Have We Become", which includes more experimentation including vocals by IAMX founder Chris Corner. The baritone/growls of Harms and the falsetto of corner make another perfect duet in the sea of industrial darkness. Then we reach the cold melancholy of "Winter's Dying Heart", an epic ballad with the instrumentation and vocals in excellent balance.
"Scarlight" starts off calm in the intro and first verse then explodes into a speedy chorus. Now, "Please Break the Silence"... Is that a more polite take on Beyond the Black's new album Break the Silence? I mean, Chris Harms has guest appeared in a song from that album and the female vocalist sounds like Jennifer Haben. Oh wait, that's Anna Brunner from League of Distortion. Still a beautiful energetic highlight! Finally, "Sharp Edges" is a soft and sweet ending track with some background noise in the climax.
So the second volume of Opvs Noir has a more experimental direction than the first. However, I feel like there should've been more of the variation Vol. 1 had. Maybe more guest vocalists? Well, Vol. 3 apparently has a little more of them, so that's promising. But until then, enjoy Vol. 2....
Favorites: "The Fall of Grace", "Walls of Eden", "Raveyard", "What Have We Become", "Winter's Dying Heart", "Please Break the Silence"