Green Carnation completes ‘A Dark Poem’ trilogy with new album

Norwegian progressive metal band Green Carnation has completed its ambitious three-part trilogy, ‘A Dark Poem’. The final installment, titled ‘The Messiah Complex’, concludes a project that began in 2018.

The trilogy, which includes ‘The Shores Of Melancholia’ and ‘Sanguis’, is inspired by Arthur Rimbaud’s ode to Shakespeare’s Ophelia. The final chapter features a diverse range of sounds, from driving riffs and psychedelic elements to a 16-minute orchestral finale titled ‘A Dark Poem – Orchestral Suite’, performed with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and Opera Choir.

Band member Kjetil Nordhus noted that the project has been a long-term endeavor involving years of composition and studio work. The band is planning to bring the project to the stage in an expansive live performance featuring a full orchestra and choir.