Riddles, Ruins & Revelations

Last updated
Riddles, Ruins & Revelations
Sirenia riddles ruins revelations cover 2021.jpg
Studio album by
Sirenia
Released12 February 2021
StudioAudio Avenue Studios (Tau, Rogaland)
Genre Symphonic metal, synth-pop
Length50:26
LanguageEnglish, French
Label Napalm
Producer Morten Veland
Sirenia chronology
Arcane Astral Aeons
(2018)		Riddles, Ruins & Revelations
(2021)		 1977
(2023)
Singles from Riddles, Ruins & Revelations
  1. "Addiction No. 1"
    Released: 8 December 2020
  2. "We Come to Ruins"
    Released: 12 January 2021
  3. "Voyage Voyage"
    Released: 10 February 2021
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth 7.5/10 [1]
Metal Hammer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Ghost Cult Magazine7/10 [3]

Riddles, Ruins & Revelations is the tenth studio album by Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia. It was released on 12 February 2021 via Napalm Records. [4] [5] [6] The first single "Addiction No. 1" was released on 8 December 2020, along with a music video. [6] The second single, "We Come to Ruins", was released on 12 January 2021. [7] On 10 February 2021, the band released their third single which is a cover of French singer Desireless, "Voyage, voyage". [8]

Contents

It was elected by Metal Hammer as the 24th best symphonic metal album. [9]

Background

Riddles, Ruins & Revelations was recorded and produced in its entirety at Morten Veland's personal studio (Audio Avenue Studios) in Tau, Norway in mid-2020. It is the first album of the band that does not feature additional recordings in Marseille with the mixed French symphonic choir (called the Sirenian Choir).

Sirenia's tenth album is a remarkable stylistic shift for the group, adding synth-pop to their usual symphonic metal musical style, opting for a more commercial bet which included the release of two music videos.

Certainly, the band moved away from the traditional gothic and symphonic sound that characterized them in the past, twenty years after their foundation. Veland said:

The album is very diverse, as a Sirenia album should be. There's a lot of material that shows the band from a new side, and there is lots of material that is to be expected from the band musically. All in all the album will take the listeners through a journey that will cover both familiar and unexplored musical landscapes.[...] [6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Morten Veland, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Addiction No. 1"4:03
2."Towards an Early Grave"5:27
3."Into Infinity"4:41
4."Passing Seasons"4:43
5."We Come to Ruins"5:12
6."Downwards Spiral"5:55
7."Beneath the Midnight Sun"4:43
8."The Timeless Waning"4:04
9."December Snow"5:20
10."This Curse of Mine"4:18
Total length:50:26
Bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Voyage Voyage" (Desireless cover)Jean-Michel Rivat and Dominique Dubois4:18
Total length:54:44

Personnel

Credits for Riddles, Ruins & Revelations adapted from liner notes. [10]

Sirenia

Additional musician

Production

Charts

Chart performance for Riddles, Ruins & Revelations
Chart (2021)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [11] 89
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [12] 18

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tristania (band)</span> Norwegian gothic metal band

Tristania was a Norwegian gothic metal band formed in 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Tristania's music is usually classified as Gothic metal with death influences, due to its strong tie and legacy within the gothic metal history. Their songs largely dealt with dark and sentimental topics, including depression, sadness, suicide, love, absence, and anger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sirenia (band)</span> Norwegian gothic metal band

Sirenia is a Norwegian gothic metal band from Stavanger, founded in 2001 by Morten Veland.

<i>Beyond the Veil</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Tristania

Beyond the Veil is the second full-length album by the Norwegian band Tristania. It is the last album to feature the band's former vocalist, guitarist and core songwriter, Morten Veland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ailyn</span> Spanish singer (born 1982)

Pilar María Del Carmen Mónica Giménez García, known professionally as Ailyn Giménez or simply Ailyn, is a Spanish singer. She is the current vocalist of Her Chariot Awaits and the former vocalist of the Norwegian symphonic/gothic metal band Sirenia. Whilst in Sirenia she was the fourth singer and sung on more full Sirenia albums than any other singer to date. In 2020 she joined the reformed Trail of Tears.

<i>An Elixir for Existence</i> 2004 studio album by Sirenia

An Elixir for Existence is the second studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia, released in 2004. The album follows in the same vein as the previous At Sixes and Sevens, but includes a new female vocalist, Henriette Bordvik. From this album, Sirenia has been presented as a 4-piece band, with Morten Veland as the only permanent member.

<i>At Sixes and Sevens</i> 2002 studio album by Sirenia

At Sixes and Sevens is the debut studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia, and their only album featuring the vocals of French singer Fabienne Gondamin. The woman on the cover is a Norwegian model, picked by the designer to represent a Siren.

<i>Sirenian Shores</i> 2004 EP by Sirenia

Sirenian Shores is an EP by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia. It was released on 11 October 2004 by Napalm Records. It is the last work recorded with the female lead singer Henriette Bordvik, who left the band in November 2005.

<i>Nine Destinies and a Downfall</i> 2007 studio album by Sirenia

Nine Destinies and a Downfall is the third studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia. It was released on 23 February 2007 through Nuclear Blast. The enhanced CD of the digipak edition contains a bonus track, the video for the song "My Mind's Eye" and multimedia software. The music video was produced and directed by Serbian film company iCODE Team, being the first of the band. In March 2007 a second video was released, "The Other Side".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morten Veland</span> Norwegian musician

Morten Veland is a Norwegian musician. He is one of the founding members of the gothic metal band Tristania and the founding member of Sirenia and Mortemia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voyage, voyage</span> 1986 song by Desireless

"Voyage, voyage" is a song by French singer Desireless, released as the first single from her debut studio album, François (1989). It was written by Jean-Michel Rivat and Dominique Dubois, and produced by the former. Sung entirely in French, the song transcended the language barrier on the music charts and became a huge international success between 1986 and 1988, reaching the top position in more than ten countries across Europe.

<i>The 13th Floor</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Sirenia

The 13th Floor is the fourth studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia and their first with the Spanish vocalist Ailyn. It was released on 23 January 2009, through Nuclear Blast. The album features guest appearances by Jan Kenneth Barkved, and the French violin player, Stephanie Valentin, who adds to the sound along with the choir that has been a part of their sound since the beginning. The album was released in three formats: CD, CD-Digi and box set. The box set edition was restricted to 500 copies worldwide. The download-only single, "The Path to Decay", was released on 26 December 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mortemia</span> Norwegian gothic metal one-man band

Mortemia is a Norwegian gothic metal one-man band created in 2009 by Morten Veland, the founder of Tristania and Sirenia.

<i>The Enigma of Life</i> 2011 studio album by Sirenia

The Enigma of Life is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia and their second with the Spanish vocalist Ailyn. It was released on 21 January 2011 through Nuclear Blast. The album was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Finland. The download-only single, "The End of It All", was released on 21 December 2010.

<i>Perils of the Deep Blue</i> 2013 studio album by Sirenia

Perils of the Deep Blue is the sixth studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia. It was released on June 28, 2013, in Europe, July 1 in the United Kingdom and July 9 in North America by Nuclear Blast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clémentine Delauney</span> French singer

Clémentine Delauney is a French singer with a soprano vocal range who is currently singing for the symphonic metal bands Visions of Atlantis and Exit Eden. Previously she was the female backing vocalist for Austrian symphonic power metal band Serenity and the vocalist of French philharmonic metal band Whyzdom.

<i>The Seventh Life Path</i> 2015 studio album by Sirenia

The Seventh Life Path is the seventh studio album by Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia. It was released on May 8 in Europe, May 11 in the United Kingdom and May 12, 2015 in North America through Napalm Records. This will be the first record released by the Austrian record company since An Elixir for Existence. It is their last album featuring longtime Spanish female vocalist Ailyn.

<i>Dim Days of Dolor</i> 2016 studio album by Sirenia

Dim Days of Dolor is the eighth studio album by Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia. It was released on November 11, 2016 through Napalm Records. It is their first album with French vocalist Emmanuelle Zoldan following the departure of Ailyn.

<i>Arcane Astral Aeons</i> 2018 studio album by Sirenia

Arcane Astral Aeons is the ninth studio album by Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia. It was released on 26 October 2018 through Napalm Records.

<i>The Pandemic Pandemonium Sessions</i> 2021 EP by Mortemia

The Pandemic Pandemonium Sessions are a digital download collection of singles by the Norwegian gothic metal one-man band Mortemia. The singles have been released through 2021 and 2022. Unlike Mortemia's first album, Misere Mortem, these singles have a more melodic and diverse musical concept. There is a female guest vocalist in each song instead of the characteristic symphonic choir.

<i>1977</i> (Sirenia album) 2023 studio album by Sirenia

1977 is the eleventh studio album by Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia. It was released on 26 May 2023 via Napalm Records. Three music videos was made for the album, "Twist in My Sobriety", a cover from English folk singer Tanita Tikaram, "Deadlight" and "Wintry Heart".

References

  1. ↑ "Riddles, Ruins & Revelations - SIRENIA". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  2. ↑ Cooper, Ali (10 February 2021). "Sirenia's Riddles, Ruins & Revelations album review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Alcock, Gary (8 February 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: Sirenia - Riddles, Ruins & Revelations". Ghost Cult Magazine. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  4. ↑ Bauer, Simon (8 December 2020). "SIRENIA: "Riddles, Ruins & Revelations"-Album für Februar 2021 angekündigt". Rock Hard Magazine. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Pessina, Luca. "SIRENIA: ascolta la nuova "Addiction No. 1"". Metalitalia (in Italian). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "SIRENIA To Release 'Riddles, Ruins & Revelations' Album In February". Blabbermouth. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "SIRENIA: 'We Come To Ruins'-Single is online". Rock Hard Megazine. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "SIRENIA Release Cover of DESIRELESS' '80s Hit 'Voyage Voyage'; Music Video". BraveWords. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Davies, Hywel; Dome, Malcolm; Goodman, Eleanor; Chantler, Chris; Gordon, Connie; Grady, Spencer; Rees, Adam; Selzer, Jonathan (17 November 2021). "The 25 best symphonic metal albums". Metal Hammer . Future plc . Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  10. ↑ (2021). "Riddles, Ruins & Revelations liner notes". In Riddles, Ruins & Revelations [CD booklet]. Napalm.
  11. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sirenia – Riddles, Ruins & Revelations" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Sirenia – Riddles, Ruins & Revelations". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.