Apparently, the collective known as LORD OF THE LOST have gotten the ’80s glam style out of their system and gotten back to producing goddamn amazing music. After the “Blood & Glitter”/Eurovision phase, they finally got back on track with what is shaping up to be a spectacular album trilogy, known as “Opvs Noir.” The first part of this trilogy was released earlier this year, the second part came out on December 12, 2025, on Napalm Records (as an early Christmas present), with the third part hitting the airwaves in spring of 2026.
More dramatic than part 1, “Opvs Noir vol. 2” has a strong enough personality to stand on its own as a separate release, but also many common themes to be a worthy sequel. It feels like LORD OF THE LOST aimed for grandiosity and epicness with this record, and they delivered incredibly well. Once again, their blend of a dark, Gothic atmosphere with bits of industrial and impressive guitar work is the backbone of these eleven songs. All the while, Chris Harms’ voice adds emotion and a sense of gravitas to the lyrics, proving why he is one of the best vocalists to emerge on the metal scene in the past decade. There’s no better example on this record than the deeply emotional and minimalist “One of Us Will Be Next,” a beautiful reflection on death and the fact that no one escapes its cold embrace. If this one doesn’t convince you (are you dead inside?), then dramatic and melancholy “Winter’s Dying Heart” will surely do the trick, being a vocally-driven track with a great atmosphere and powerful instrumental (especially when it comes to the drums) that showcases Chris Harms’ theatrical side quite well.
There seems to be a couple of trademarks when it comes to the “Opvs Noir” albums, and those are the diversity in sound and ambiance on one hand, and the stellar collaborations (which fit the artists like a glove) on the other. Singles “Raveyard” and “Would You Walk with Me Through Hell?” are perfect examples of both trademarks mentioned above, as they are completely different tracks in terms of style, atmosphere, and mood. Where “Raveyard” is a lively party song complete with industrial accents and a rap part courtesy of Finnish artist Käärijä, the other one is a somber yet romantic duet with Lena Scissorhands (INFECTED RAIN), whose ethereal, clean voice and guttural screams complement Chris Harms’ delivery perfectly.
Another standout collaboration is on the dramatic and massive track “What Have We Become,” where industrial and orchestral meet to elevate the vocals and add a theatrical touch to the music as this duet with UK experimental artist Chris Corner (a.k.a. IAMX) feels both cathartic and invigorating. If Käärijä, Lena, and IAMX are big parts of their respective songs, Anna Brunner (LEAGUE OF DISTORTION and EXIT EDEN) is a more discreet presence on the melancholy Gothic anthem “Please Break the Silence,” her vocals adding warmth and harmony to the main vocal melody. Even so, the song hits home with its heartfelt message, being a beautiful melodic counterpoint to the majestic “Would You Walk with Me Through Hell?.”
Elsewhere, the opening track, “The Fall from Grace,” is a cute Gothic number with some pleasant piano countermelodies running through itthat acts like an appetizer for what comes next. Both “Walls of Eden” and “The Last Star” are synth-laden numbers that sparkle and pop with energy while also carrying a Gothic sheen that would make them instant crowd-pleasers in the clubs. Conversely, “Scarlight” is a more serious piece in both mood and tone despite its groovy rhythm, poppy melodies, frantic energy, high-octane chorus, and killer guitar solo section. There are some nice piano melodies that surface here and there, and which remind me of “Moonstruck” from the previous outing. Closing track, “Sharp Edges,” is a soft and tender ballad that is wonderfully minimalistic and delightfully orchestral, and could almost be mistaken for a “Swan Songs” track.
All-in-all, this second part of their “Opvs Noir” trilogy continues to showcase a band that is in equal measure confident in its sound and constantly evolving by blending different styles and moods into their Gothic sonic universe. LORD OF THE LOST make good use of their artistic freedom not only by collaborating with artists from different backgrounds that bring so much nuance and texture to the music, but also by simply writing good songs that show how versatile they are as musicians. There aren’t many bands that can go from something somber like “Winter’s Dying Heart” to something jaunty like “Raveyard” and never once missing a beat or losing their core sound in the process. This is one of the many reasons LORD OF THE LOST are rightfully seen as one of the rising forces on the metal scene, with the “Opvs Noir” albums containing some of their strongest material to date.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- The Fall from Grace
- Would You Walk with Me Through Hell? (& Infected Rain)
- One of Us Will Be Next
- Walls of Eden
- Raveyard (feat. Käärijä)
- The Last Star
- What Have We Become (feat. IAMX)
- Winter’s Dying Heart
- Scarlight
- Please Break the Silence (feat. Anna Brunner)
- Sharp Edges
Lineup
Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Benjamin “Benji” Mundigler – Guitar, Synths
Klaas Helmecke – Bass
Gerrit Heinemann – Piano, Synths, Percussion
Niklas Kahl – Drums
Label
Napalm Records
