Apparently, this is the decade of solo albums, as we already have quite a lot of music from artists who either have decided to step outside their main band(s) and flex their creative muscle on their own or are solo artists by force of circumstance. From Charlotte Wessles’s “Tales from Six Feet Under” (vol. 1 in 2021 and vol. 2 in 2022) through VV’s “Neon Noir” (2023), Floor Jansen’s “Paragon” (2023), Simone Simons’s “Vermilion” (2024), Chris Harms’ “1980” (2025), Marko Hietala’s “Roses from the Deep” (2025), LESSDMV’s “Epithath II” (2025) and all the way to Melissa Bonny’s “Cherry Red Apocalypse” (2026), the selection is quite vast (and these are only the ones I know of). And it is going to grow even more once Fabienne Erni drops her solo work, “Starveil,” on March 13th, 2026.
Sitting comfortably at the crossroads between ELUVEITE’s folk metal and ILLUSMISHADE’s modern metal soundscape, “Starveil” is the best of both these worlds, being both melodic and modern, folky and cinematic, with some darker undertones and brighter heights that give it a strong sonic identity of its own. But “Starveil” is so much more than just a metal album that combines various influences, as the non-English lyrics (in this case, invented words and phrases) and atmospheric interludes give it a mystic aura, making it a deeply immersive sonic experience. I really appreciate artists who can perform in a different language, who can modulate their voice to create sounds and speak words that are not typically used on the international music scene (which is dominated by the English language), and who craft albums like this one that transport you to a different realm, providing a welcome escape from the day-to-day grind.
This multi-faceted dimension, the fact that there are so many moods and soundscapes during its almost forty minutes of runtime, is undoubtedly the biggest strength of “Starveil.” The album starts off strong with the heavy yet delicate “Sky’s Breath,” whose soaring chorus anchors it and contrasts with the minimalist verses, creating a nice ebb-and-flow movement, before continuing with what I consider to be the album’s centerpiece – “Ritual.” This beautiful collaboration with Lena Scissorhands (INFECTED RAIN) is a dynamic and darker affair where the two vocalists work in tandem to create a gloomy ambiance that grows in intensity as the music progresses, only to be capped off by Lena’s harsh vocals. Up next, “Stone by Stone” is a poppier song with a strong, catchy chorus underpinned by layers of percussion and an excellent melody at its core that is beautifully carried by Fabienne’s emotive vocals.
The title track, “Starveil,” combines traditional folk melodies with some modern metal crunch into one layered and cinematic track that will have you dancing in no time. The spooky “Living and the Dead,” which feels taken from BLACKBRIAR’s catalogue, is like the perfect counterpoint to the light and bouncy “Starveil,” and this juxtaposition alone is a great example of how tracklisting can create ebbs and flows in the way the songs move through various moods and thus give an album an interesting internal dynamic. The contrasts continue with the atmospheric “Shaelun Vyrathi,” which is not only the mid-point between the first part of the album and its second part, but also one of those moments that give the album its mysterious and mystic aura. Up next, “Forged in Me” is another poppier track carried by strong melodies and an even stronger chorus, which brings to mind the cinematic beauty of ILLUSMISHADE, while “Never Let Go” rides high on guitars, pounding drums, soaring melodies, some folky vibes, and an uplifting chorus. Conversely, both “Elren” and “Thalen Muron” are songs that subvert our expectations in the best way possible, the first being an interlude driven by some strings and vocals, while the second is a chant underpinned by tribal drums, and together they add so much interest, nuance, and moodiness to the album.
To conclude, “Starveil” is an album that demands attention and rewards it with its treasure trove of musical ideas that range from folky and heavy to cinematic and atmospheric, with a strong melodic backbone to be entertaining and diverse. It moves fluidly between the standard metal songs sung in English and the more experimental songs that have non-English lyrics to them, with Fabienne’s ethereal and bright voice at its center. From the opening notes and vocals of atmospheric intro “Vareon” until the melancholy ambiance of “Lullaby Echo” winds down the album, “Starveil” is a layered and emotive offering that showcases Fabienne Erni’s strong grasp on her craft not only as a vocalist but as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist as well.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
01. Vareon
02. Sky’s Breath
03. Ritual (feat. Lena Scissorhands)
04. Stone By Stone
05. Starveil
06. Living And The Dead
07. Shaelun Vyrathi
08. Forged In Me
09. Never Let Go
10. Elren
11. Thalen Muron
12. Call Beyond Time
13. Lullaby Echo
Lineup
- Fabiene Erni – Vocals
- Michael Hirst – Guitars & Bass
- Vadim Ojog – Guitars & Bass
- Hannes Bachofner – Electronics
- Coen Strouken – Strings
- Eugene Voluta – Drums
Label
Independent release
