Whilst I have a healthy appreciation for all sub-genres of metal, if you have been following my reviews on this site for any length of time, then it is likely you will have noticed my predilection to power metal in particular (more so when it is symphonic). So you can imagine my happiness when “Of Love And Sorrow”, newly released on October 25, 2024 thanks to Rockshots Records, promised to deliver an experience which harked back to the golden era of bands such as Sonata Artica, Stratovarius, and Nightwish.
The album marks the debut of the rising Italian force known as Lay of the Autumn, whose name may sound familiar to Insomnium fans (if you don’t know the reference, do yourself a favour and investigate “Across The Dark”). Like that band’s music, “Of Love And Sorrow” possesses a similar melancholy, but this is where the sonic comparisons really end. Despite their newcomer status, the line-up also consists of a strong pedigree of musicians, including Davide Scuteri (Ravenword, Choirs of Veritas) as the keyboardist and sole lyricist/composer, and Michele Olmi (Chronosfear, Embrace of Souls) on drums. But the real prize for me was with the surprise reveal of Ukranian vocalist Iryna ‘ERIA’ Boyarkina, whom I have always admired in other projects – even her brief stint in the oft-maligned pop-metal band SEMARGL.
Indeed, if ever there was a singer deserving of greater breakout success, it would be Iryna. And with Lay of The Autumn, that may finally be a real possibility. When the band had first showcased their music, it was with the initially promising instrumental track “Si Sta Come D’Autunno Sugli Alberi Le Foglie”. Although it was pleasant and gave a strong indication of their virtuosity, it did feel as though a big component was still missing. And now we realise how true a statement that was. As good as the rest of the band are, Iryna simply lifts them to an all-new level. Our first taste of her vocals is on the spectacular “Flowing Tears“, which picks up steam after the beautiful piano-laden intro “When It Rains“. The track’s symphonic grandeur transitioning to a breakneck mid-way section, featuring plenty of resplendent keys and quick guitar notes, thus fulfilling their pledge early on to bring a fast, melodic intensity.
The band does borrow heavily from the established staples of both symphonic metal and power metal. But if anything, that proves to be a positive instead of a negative here. “Lost In Your Eyes” is another banger, with its synth-heavy start, steady tempo, and romantically catchy chorus: “In an instant I saw // the cosmos enclosed in a glance // In your eyes“. With Iryna’s convincing performance successfully preventing it from sounding contrived, which could have easily transpired. “After All This Time? Always“ carries on this epic love-letter, with a tale of unrequited love that is inspired by Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series (the song’s title is even a direct quote from the franchise). And it is with this outpouring of emotion that Iryna’s warmth of character is allowed to truly resonate with listeners.
I’ll love you forever and ever
Lay of the Autumn – After All This time? Always
Death cannot erase my feelings
After all this time? Always
I’ll never deny my love
“Thrown Away“, contrary to its title, is anything but a disposable composition, as a result of its heavy bombasts, thundering beats, and goth-tinged arpeggios fostering plenty of energy and excitement. Additional ferocity is injected by Andrea Gambaro, whose very impressive growling capabilities not only make an appearance here, but also later for the title track “Of Love And Sorrow“. The momentum doesn’t slow with next song “Undergo Deconstruction“, a philosophical piece which attempts to unravel the truth of reality, and the concept of self: “You don’t have a soul // you are a soul //you have nothing else // you are nothing else“. Iryna appropriately using more of her angelic, high-pitched ‘head’ voice as a way to perhaps drive this point home. While “Love You To Death” has that pure Rock Opera-feel about it; you can almost picture it being performed as a powerful solo number in a Broadway musical. “Who Is To Blame“, on the other hand, is a decidedly bleak commentary on the state of the world and the wars being waged for your mind: “The wolf disguised himself as a lamb // to devour your sense of justice // The essence of the world has been lost // in this endless war to catch your soul“. But rather than looking to assign fault as the album comes to a close, I’m simply left wondering who to congratulate for this incredible feat of a debut. The answer of course is: Lay of the Autumn. So to them I say, bravo!
Verdict: “Of Love And Sorrow” by Italian newcomers Lay of the Autumn lives up to its title and potential, offering a celebration of life and death expressed via a humble imitation of their biggest peers (back in a bygone age when they were still at their peak). The album is a commendable and thought-provoking initial effort, and one that I hope will be rewarded with an equally good follow-up in the not-too-distant future.
