Sirenia is the Goth Metal project of former Tristania mainman, Morten Veland. The 13th Floor is the band’s second album for Nuclear Blast Record and features a sound that is more akin to a real band than many of the band’s prior works, due to the stability of the current lineup. Perhaps as a result of this new way of working (the prior one seemingly being Veland acting as a solo artist), Sirenia have created a powerful album that is both radio friendly and respect garnering.
A good bit of the key here honestly is the female vocalist Ailyn. While her voice is not all that striking on its own, her reserved delivery enables the band to surround her in a very interesting way, at times sounding like a Pop album (“Lost in Life,” most of “The Path to Decay,” “The Lucid Door,” and “Led Astray”) and at others sounding like a musical on steroids (“Beyond Life’s Scenery” and “Winterborn 77”). For the most part though, the hooks here are huge. The result is an album that draws you in and makes you want to sing along more often than not, something Sirenia have failed to achieve on past albums.
The driving book ends to this album, “The Path to Decay” and “Sirens of the Seven Seas,” say it all. Sirenia have arrived. While they may never be as recognized as Leave’s Eyes, Within Temptation, Epica, or Nightwish, they have created an album worthy of being shelved alongside such bands. There is nothing subpar about The 13th Floor, it is a focused album that will leave you satisfied and ready for another trip through the labyrinth.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
