Danish band ILLNATH really took me by surprise with this brand new album called “Second Skin of Harlequin”… their second full-length album, by the way.

What we have here is what I would call Symphonic Melodic Black Metal… just think of a mix between bands like; Dimmi Borgir, Cradle of Filth, and Children of Bodom, peppered with a Symphonic Power Metal band and you have the sound and style of this album.

Even though the music is very Symphonic at times, it’s still Metal but maybe hard core Black Metal fans will find this release too soft and too melodic?

Well… what I like about “Second Skin of Harlequin” is ILLNATH’S ability to write catchy hooks and memorable melody lines. Even after numerous listens I still find this album fresh and enjoyable… and I discover new things every single time I listen to it.

Songs like; “And There was Light”, “Pieta”, “She the Plague” and “Feathers Shall Fall” combines intensity and heaviness with catchy melodies that could stay in my mind for a long time. If I should name my favourite track… it could very well be “Clockwork of Time”… there’s just so much going on in this track. Beautiful and fucking catchy melody lines wrapped around catchy riffs make this track something special to me. This track is filled with many different passages that will move the soul and your heart. More of this… please.

We get 8 tracks and they are well worth the listen from beginning to end and then you do it all over again. The production done by Jan Borsing and the band are splendid and so are the cover artwork done by Wilhelm Steiner.

Check this Danish band out, now.