There are albums you listen to… and then there are albums that completely consume you.
French gothic doom veterans Angellore have returned from the shadows with Nocturnes, a record so drenched in sorrow, atmosphere, and haunting beauty that it feels less like an album and more like a cursed dream whispered through candlelight and rainstorms.
Set for release on May 15th 2026 via Ardua Music, Nocturnes promises to be one of the year’s most emotionally devastating and breathtaking doom metal releases — a sprawling gothic tale filled with tragedy, folklore, heartbreak, and towering cinematic soundscapes.
And honestly, mun… this thing sounds absolutely massive. 🖤
Twenty Years Of Gothic Doom Excellence ⚰️
For nearly two decades, Angellore have quietly built a reputation as one of gothic doom’s most enchanting and emotionally rich bands. Blending crushing melancholy with folk instrumentation, theatrical storytelling, and spellbinding atmosphere, the Avignon collective have crafted a sound that sits proudly alongside genre legends like:
- Theatre Of Tragedy
- Tristania
- Empyrium
- Draconian
- Saturnus
Previous releases like La Litanie des Cendres and Rien Ne Devait Mourir earned critical praise for their rich emotional storytelling and immersive atmosphere, with Angry Metal Guy famously describing the band’s work as painting “a despairingly beautiful picture for the listener to enjoy.”
But by the sounds of it, Nocturnes takes everything Angellore do and pushes it deeper into the abyss.
A Decade In The Darkness 🌑
According to the band, Nocturnes has been slowly evolving for nearly ten years, crafted piece by piece across different studios and countries including Iceland and Belgium.
And you can feel that level of care in every detail.
This is not an album made for playlists or background listening. This is full immersion gothic doom — the kind of record that wraps around your soul and refuses to let go.
The album opens with “Falling Birds”, a sorrowful and cinematic piece dripping with aching melody, crushing doom chords, and spectral beauty. Ethereal vocals soar above guitars heavy with grief while oboe and bass clarinet create a chillingly hypnotic atmosphere.
Then comes “Black Sun River”, sounding like a ghostly dance beneath storm clouds and ancient ruins — packed with emotional weight and gothic grandeur.
“Forsaken Fairytale” introduces another layer of Angellore’s storytelling magic, weaving together clean and harsh vocals, piano, flute, and crushing doom textures into something theatrical and deeply immersive.
Meanwhile “Martyrium” feels absolutely colossal — cathedral choirs, windswept darkness, midnight melancholy, and enough atmosphere to blot out the bloody sun.
Closing track “A Dormant Stream” delivers the final emotional blow, blending delicate instrumentation, stately guitar melodies, flute, cello, and towering doom heaviness into a finale that sounds utterly spellbinding.
Basically?
This album sounds like wandering through a haunted castle at 2am while emotionally processing your entire existence.
Classic gothic doom behaviour. 🖤
The Line-Up ⚔️
Angellore
- Lucia – Vocals
- Rosarius – Clean & harsh vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, synths, grand piano
- Walran – Harsh & clean vocals, synths, grand piano
- Celin – Bass, additional guitars, EBow, backing extreme vocals
- Ronnie – Drums & percussions
Guest Musicians
- Gunnar Ben – Oboe on “Falling Birds” & “A Dormant Stream”
- Ségolène Perraud – Flute on “Falling Birds”, “Forsaken Fairytale” & “A Dormant Stream”
- Dirk Goossens – Bass clarinet on “Falling Birds”
- Raphaël Verguin – Cello on “Forsaken Fairytale” & “A Dormant Stream”
Production Fit For The Darkness 🎧
Nocturnes was engineered and mixed by Déhà, whose work with countless underground extreme metal projects has earned him legendary status within the scene.
Mastering duties were handled by Markus Skroch, while the album artwork was created by the band’s own Florent “Celin” Castellani, perfectly capturing the ghostly, dreamlike spirit of the record.
Why Doom Fans NEED This Album 🕯️
There’s something genuinely magical about bands like Angellore. They don’t just write songs — they build worlds.
Nocturnes sounds like an album designed for listeners who want to disappear completely into music. Fans of atmospheric doom, gothic metal, dark folk, and emotionally charged storytelling are going to absolutely feast on this release.
If you miss the emotional depth and grandeur of classic gothic doom, this might become your new obsession.
And let’s be honest — in a world full of disposable algorithm-driven singles, hearing a band create something this immersive and passionate feels refreshing as hell.
Release Information 📀
Album: Nocturnes
Artist: Angellore
Label: Ardua Music
Release Date: May 15th 2026
Genre: Gothic Doom Metal
Follow Angellore 🌙
Final Verdict From The Riff Report 🤘
Nocturnes already sounds like one of 2026’s essential gothic doom releases — haunting, elegant, devastating, and gloriously atmospheric from beginning to end.
This isn’t just doom metal.
This is gothic doom as art.
Light the candles, grab the headphones, and prepare to disappear into the darkness, butt. 🖤🔥
