When it comes to subgenres, symphonic metal can sometimes feel like the very antithesis of modernity, and certainly not one that lends itself to making music DIY-style – not without some deep pockets, or a serious compromise on sound.
Enter Blackbriar, the plucky young Dutch band who made one of Hammer’s favourite goth-tinged symphonic albums of 2023 with their second LP, A Dark Euphony.
A triumph of fantastical symphonic storytelling and beautiful soundscapes that sounded totally modern, the record was a remarkable feat for a band without abundant resources. The songs of A Dark Euphony, while drenched in folkloric and fantasy metaphor that’s synonymous with the genre, are mostly grounded in a tangible reality. Take An Unwelcome Guest, for example, one of the more personal songs on the album.
