This is the fourth album from The Fifth Alliance, a post-metal band from the Netherlands.
Having graced us with Death Poems in 2015 and then The Depth of the Darkness in 2019, The Fifth Alliance have returned once again, after what seems like an age, with the 38-minute Stenahoria. Armed with a new drummer and a new vocalist, The Fifth Alliance have been reborn in darkness.
Stenahoria sees The Fifth Alliance existing in a liminal space between black, doom, sludge, and post-metal. Blackened post-metal, for simplicity, in essence. Maybe. Either way, it’s damn good. Blackened post-metal may not be the most useful tag in many ways, but it gets the job done. In this rather niche subgenre, The Fifth Alliance are currently one of the best. As reference points, mix together acts like Amenra, Cult of Luna, Oathbreaker, Obscure Sphinx, Unverkalt, and Year or No Light, and you’ll have a rough starting point for Stenahoria.
From bleak introspection to all-consuming atmosphere, from crushing doom despondency to furious raging blast beats, there’s a lot of different ingredients that have gone into the making of Stenahoria. The new singer puts in a commanding performance. Her voice is a potent one, no matter whether she’s screaming, roaring, or belting out powerful cleans. Her presence is undeniable, yet doesn’t overpower the rest of the music.
Stenahoria is a harrowing and destructive album that’s somehow been twinned with a sense of renewal and rebirth. Thus combined, it provides a curious experience of music that embodies both. As the band rage, they also uplift. As they despair, they also offer hope. When the punishment is almost too much, there is the promise of relief. It generally skews darker, but there is enough light here to hit a sweet spot that few bands do. Stenahoria supplies a journey into The Fifth Alliance’s heart of darkness; when you come out the other side, you’ll be scarred, but in a strangely beneficial way.
Dark, imbued with deep emotion, and instantly impactful, Stenahoria impresses. It’s not just style oflver substance though, as The Fifth Alliance’s songwriting is strong enough to endure repeated spins. In fact, these return visits are strongly encouraged, as that’s the best way to get the most from the five songs you’ll find here. The band make good use of all of their available tools from the various subgenres that have gone into this record, making listening to these tracks an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
So, after seven years The Fifth Alliance have reemerged, stronger than ever. Stenahoria is an atmospheric powerhouse, but also has brutally sharp teeth. It’s post-metal worldbuilding, doom metal power, and post-blackened ferocity all rolled into one compelling, emotion-rich ball of sorrow and claws. Make sure you don’t miss this one.
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 