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by Sebastian Kluth

Sounding as Dated as Its Title - A Review of Sirenia's 1977

Sirenia - 1977 (2023)

Founded by Morten Veland upon leaving Tristania at the beginning of the millennium, Sirenia has now been around for twenty-two years and counting and has just released its eleventh studio album 1977. The album title doesn't exactly refer to the music of said year but is actually Morten Veland's year of birth instead. Sirenia had initially started as sinister gothic metal band before shifting towards symphonic metal and now melodic alternative rock. Fans of yore might claim that the band has watered down as time went by but the last few records included enough catchy anthems to remain relatively interesting.

That however isn't the case on 1977. Despite eleven songs and a running time of forty-nine minutes, this album rushes by without leaving any negative or positive impression. This is mostly due to weak, unimaginative and predictable songwriting. The chorus is repeated to death in album opener ''Deadlight'' but you still won't remember it five minutes after having listened to the song. 

''Fading to the Deepest Black'' attempts to go back to the group's gothic metal stylistics with growls and gloomy lyrics but it all feels forced and uninspired as the spookiest thing about this tune is its stereotypical title.

''Oceans Away'' is the mandatory gothic pop ballad focused on elegant keyboard sounds and heartfelt female vocals but one can't help once to feel that one has heard very similar songs before and that the songwriting is way too much by the numbers here. 

Closing cover song ''Twist in My Sobriety'' is a tune that I have never listened to before and the lukewarm cover lacking genuine emotions certainly doesn't make me want to check out the original song. Sirenia has chosen much better cover songs in the recent past, such as on the preceding studio album. This song here is so dull that it makes listeners desire to get drunk.

At the end of the day, 1977 is the weakest album released by Sirenia that I have been listening to thus far. The record offers a tame mixture of gothic metal, symphonic rock and pop music. Lacklustre songwriting and the lack of genuine emotions drag this album further into mediocrity. This effort can only be recommended to faithful fans and avid collectors. Occasional fans have nine better studio album to rediscover rather than wasting their time with this slightly disappointing release.

Final Rating: 50%

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