Those who know Danish dark metallers SATURNUS know what to expect from their third album Veronica Decides To Die and will be thrilled. All the other ones might looking forward to a manifest of sadness and melancholy in the veins of old Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Katatonia.
With the release of the band’s sophomore Martyre in 2000 the guys were already working on new material, but though it took six long years to release Veronica Decides To Die. Despite of this long time of absence nothing has changed stylistically, seamlessly following the predecessor. Deeply sad, heartbreaking and melancholic-draped melodies are wrapped in a doomy gothic robe with acoustic parts, distinct guitar work, great solos and increased piano tunes, lyrically based on Paulo Coelhos novel “Veronica Decides To Die”.
Emotionally speaking I’d say Veronica Decides To Die is not that epic anymore, instead it’s a little more in a subtle way, what might be due to the new band members. But epically the songs (between 6 and 11 minutes) and the album length itself still is. Growls of singer Thomas AG Jensen are deeper and his clean parts, narrations and whispers even rarer. Though Veronica Decides To Die is a self-contained and harmonious album that isn’t any bit inferior to the predecessor. Just listen to great songs such as Rain Wash Me and All Alone.
Veronica Decides To Die is a great comeback album making the band’s access to the business as easy as possible. But still my hopes goes out to see the line-up proving themselves, making it possible to see SATURNUS going on with their musical carrier and to see them finally performing live throughout Europe.