BLACKBRIAR – “A thousand little deaths” (2025)
An album I have been waiting for, eagerly and for a long time, considering ‘Floriography’ released 9 months ago. In the end and after a thousand little deaths, all the longing and anticipation turned to excitement as the time to get lost into BLACKBRIAR’s new stories is finally here. One of my favorite new bands (and in general) due to their uniqueness, a charectiristic proven by the fact that it is very hard to describe their music with just a few words or contain them under a specific genre. The release we are going to talk about, “A thousand little deaths”, mark’s the group’s 3rd full-length entry, of a more expanded discography that includes three EPs and some stand alone singles, all of which are worth listening to.
What I wanted from this album? More of the same to be honest, as BLACKBRIAR’s philosophy is so special, it can’t be found elsewhere, so I really expected them doing what they do best. What I got? More than what I was asking for, as the band is steadily evolving its sound with each entry, this time adding perhaps the only spice I think they needed more of. A heavier approach. If you listen to just a few of their songs in their catalog, you will get a clear idea of what kind of music they play. Then if you pick a song from their early EPs and compare it to their latest LPs, you will definitely say it is BLACKBRIAR, yet in my ears there is a huge gap between ‘I’d rather burn’ and let’s say the new ‘A last sigh of bliss’.
The compositions feel larger and richer now thanks to a stronger band presence. Before I felt that Zora was the centerpiece that carried the songs, whereas the new album brings her bandmates next to her without diminishing her role, which is something I truly welcome. They feel more and more like a Metal band in a united front and when in “A dark euphony” I cherissed the heavy outburst of ‘Bloody footprints in the snow’, then comes “A thousand…” full of moments like that and I couldn’t be happier.
Simultaneously, all of the remaining characteristics are back. Each song is like a gateway that transports the listener into another world, that of BLACKBRIAR. A world that is full of romance, loss, darkness and yearning. The atmosphere is eerie, welcoming, dangerous and captivating at the same time. Poetic lyrics that are rich in metaphors, twists and turns await in every corner. Adding to that, the lyrics are much as important as the music. You may just listen to a song, but when you read what Zora sings of, it feels like discovering it for a second time, like finding a hidden layer that is a core part of the experience.
From the tracklist of ten, there is not a clear winner or a single that will carry the record on its back, so anything can end up as your favorite moment. Mine is ‘Green light across the bay’ for various reasons. The guitar riffs during the verses have character, the haunting melody of the chorus is unparalleled, in the bridge the drumming and vocals are great as well, while I also like the mysterious theme of the lyrics about Sirens and the sea. Others are ‘Floriography’ (which made me search the term and turned out as a pretty interesting read) and ‘Bluebeard’s chamber’, but each song hides each own treasures. From the breakdown and solo of ‘The hermit and the lover’, to my favorite lyrics of ‘Fossilized widow’ that are coming right after, there are so many little things that will keep you occupied for a long time.
“Spiders are crawlingDust is dancing in a tiny streak of lightIt’s turning into a proper haunted mansionWhere time stood still, and lovers have diedWhere curious children are climbing through a broken windowTo see if the legend is trueAnd get a glimpse of the fossilized widow”
Let’s sum it all up. An album that stays true to the band’s roots while showing clear signs of evolution, namely a heavier direction with richer instrumentation. A tracklist that can generate ten different answers in the question ‘what is your favorite track’ depending on who you ask, with each song being a different story to get lost in. Lyrics with meaning and substance. Vocal melodies that house an insane amount of inspiration and innovation. BLACKBRIAR as a band have built something that is totally their own, you can see it in their distinct artwork style, their music, it is evident everywhere. You do not listen to their songs, you experience them, you connect with them. As it was always the case with the band, “A thousand little deaths” requires that you vibe with it. If you cannot feel the connection then most probably it will not move you by the slightest, as its purpose is to transport you somewhere else. It needs your attention and imagination, just like a book, that requires you to get lost in it. BLACKBRIAR’s new album is not the next must listen Heavy Metal entry, but it is a unique musical and artistic experience that cannot be found in any other place. Approach with eyes, ears, mind and imagination open!
90/100
Pavlos Pavlakis
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