Veland, of course, is famous for his work with Tristania. He left that band in 01 and formed the basics of Sirenia. Now there are a lot of things you can say about Veland, but high on the list is his ability to evaluate female vocalists. And he’s had a few. With Tristania there was the incomparable Vibeke Stene, a staple on the Gothic scene for years. With Sirenia, there has been a veritable cavalcade of voices, none of them offensive, to say the least. Most don’t stay long, usually one and done, and that can be said of the vocalist on this offering. The singer here is Monika Pedersen from Denmark and she can be described along several continuums. First, she is a fine vocalist, second, she interprets the music extremely well, and third, well, she sure looks good in the videos.

Well, anyway, Nine Destinies and a Downfall is the third release from this composite group. It is not exactly the same as the previous two, and some have complained about the deviation. Previous releases have focused on a juxtaposition of the female vox with the grunting of Veland. And, that chemistry, similar to the previous Tristania releases, has been warmly received. But this release goes in some different directions. Fist and foremost, the vocals are largely contributed by the aforementioned Ms. Pedersen. Maybe that’s one of the points of contention. Many of us were very pleased with the grunting of Veland on previous efforts, and this offering is light in that capacity. But, is that a sin? In this instance, maybe not.

Nine Destinies is a more harmonic production than previous works by Veland. . . and it is certainly not a crime to look in new directions. Fact of the matter is, the grunting is only heard on three tracks: Sundown, Seven Keys and Nine Doors, and Downfall. These just happen to be three of the best, go figure. But, the vocals of Pedersen are significant and more than a little entertaining. She is not opera but she has a mesmerizing style. And, there are choirs, something that some of us find very attractive. Interestingly enough, there are additional clean male vocals as well, and well done.

Veland is a master of the lyrical gothic. I can think of few to match his capabilities in this realm. You can go back to Tristania and never find a song without a strong gothic message. And this CD does not disappoint in that regard, no matter how you view the music. Veland has the dark side down cold. And Pedersen has the dark side presentation down just as cold.

On The Other Side, Veland suggests:

And, isn’t it the "other side" that is the basis for this music. Veland has spent a career looking into that issue. And, for those of us with an interest in the lyrics, this CD continues with a message that is both intriguing and focused. I can think of few lyricists who so capably address the "Big Picture", that which brings us to the ethereal issues which serve as a basis for the Gothic themes. Veland even looks the part, watch his videos and this is what we want from our musicians. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have that Gothic female lead vocalist. Pedersen may digress from some of the vocalists Veland has used, but not in a negative way. Her presentation, accentuated as it is in this CD, is very much to the point. It is the Nordic feminine mystique, with the beautiful voice and the sultry presentation that takes over the music. On the opening song, she sets the tone saying:

This is blatant Veland. And the background music doesn’t deviate from the traditional sound.

There are other deviations and adjustments in this CD. For one thing, the business end of things has been altered. Sirenia is now in the Nuclear Blast stable. Not sure how this effects the music, but it sure effects the marketing. Probably for the best.

The group composition has remained somewhat stable over time. Sirenia is largely a studio project, but the live performers tend to include Pedersen, Veland, Bjorn Landa on guitar and Jonathan Perez– drums, percussion.

The Scandinavian sound is a little heavier than some in this genre. And Sirenia is a Norwegian band. They do typically gothic heavy metal, And Veland is one of the patron saints of that sound. If you’re looking for the soft stuff, this is not a place to search. If , however, you are a fan of the Nordic Gothic, and want a more female focused vocal component, Nine Destinies will not disappoint.

9 / 10