It’s a bit of a shame that I’m writing this review more than two months after the release date of Sidera. If there is one (melodic post-) black metal album that needs all the praise it can get in 2026 it’s this one. My friend Radu already explained how the Quebec metal scene had such a strong grip on black metal. The formation of Miserere Luminis back in the late 2000s was everyone’s dream come true, as we all knew back then what projects like Gris and Sombres Forêts were capable of. While their debut was a solid release, it just didn’t reach those splendorous heights related to its related bands.
Time passed and not only has Miserere Luminis returned (before its building blocks even) but they did so with astonishing power. Ordalie wasn’t just an improvement upon their debut, it was also an album that carried such a strong “we are so back” vibe that listeners like me weren’t prepared for such an emotional onslaught.
Guess what? That was just a warm-up. Sidera sees the band continuing to polish all the elements to their sound down to the tiniest detail. The riffs and solos are potent and highly memorable. The shrieks and howls are painful and heartwrenching. The drumming is impeccable, tasteful, and delicate when it needs to. All this has been combined with striking chamber music that is hauntingly beautiful. It’s really difficult to emphasize enough how touching some of these sections are and how they are brilliantly stitched in the black metal fabric. The build-up around the six minute mark of “De Cris & De Cendres” is unreal. I’ve never heard violins and thundering drums working so well before. But then there is the delicate elegance of “Aux Bras Des Vagues & Des Vomissures” that opens with an exquisite piano with the rest of the instruments gently joining in. It really is the kind of stuff that gives you misty eyes.
I can only fantasize how Miserere Luminis would sound live with a chamber ensemble behind them. My heart would probably burst out of grief. Hearing extreme metal being mixed so effortlessly with classical elements reminds me how much I love music and why it is my favorite art medium by a landslide. To all of you who have heard Sidera already: Please let me know how to process all these feelings. To all of you who have not: I implore you to find the time, close your eyes, and let one of the most passionate metal albums of 2026 have a firm grip on your soul.
