With 33 songs and over two hours of music, Lord of the Lost have written an ambitious trilogy, fortunately spread over eight months instead of being released all at once. On Opvs Noir , the band turns to the darker, more gothic aspects of their pop-infused metal, bringing in many guest collaborators to keep things spicy. The first two volumes of this opvs have proven successful, with creative orchestration and a moving performance from frontman Chris Harms. The question is whether Lord of the Lost can maintain the momentum over another 11 tracks on Vol. 3. The finale of an ambitious project like this can often be bittersweet, as it marks the end of something you’ve (hopefully) loved, or, like the finales of the Mission Impossible series or Daniel Craig’s James Bond run, it can simply be disappointing.
In contrast to the more energetic, sometimes flamboyant orchestrations of the two previous albums, Vol. 3 proves much milder. The gothic symphonic elements are often combined with softer pop/rock parts, many of which aim for mood over hooks. The opening track “Kill the Lights” starts with a pop beat, some cello and a growl from Chris Harms, and although the chorus may not stick, it’s an overall good song. The more melancholic tracks don’t always work, however. “The Shadows Within”, which alternates between slower pop and higher-energy techno-pop, is largely forgettable. The minimalist finale, “The Days of Our Lives”, serves as a disappointing end to the trilogy, although Harms, as usual, makes it worth your while with his melodic pacing. Although overall less exciting, Vol. 3 offers plenty of catchy ballads and duets, including “La Vie Est Hell”, performed with departing Kissin’ Dynamite frontman Hannes Braun. It doesn’t do anything special, yet I often find it playing in my head repeatedly.
- Read also: Lord of the Lost – Opvs Noir Vol 2 Review
Opvs Noir Vol. 3 draws on a variety of pop themes that run through it: empowerment and doomed love. The two most upbeat tracks, «I’m a Diamond» and «I Hate People», play as Rammstein-style techno-industrial pop anthems for people who don’t quite fit into mainstream society. While «I’m a Diamond» is the catchiest song offered, the lyrics are a little contrived. «I Hate People» subverts its misanthropic title, turning its rage toward those who seek to impose their narrow ideology on others. Lyrically, «My Funeral», which harks back to songs with heavy synthesizers and hip hop, is my favorite, with humorous lyrics where Harms declares that «Black is my happy color» and «I will, I will wear / Pink at my funeral». The pop themes are rounded out with a few love songs, from the Duran Duran-inspired synth pop track «Square One», with 80s volumes, to a moving duet with Ambre Vourvahis ( Xandria ). These touches help keep a rather mild album from going stale.
While the songs here are well-written and well-performed, there’s no doubt it gives the sense that Lord of the Lost ran out of energy on Vol. 3. The hooks just don’t come as easily, and the lower energy levels feel like a disappointment compared to the highs of the first two volumes. One problem is the sluggishness of the guitars. While creative riffs weren’t one of Lord of the Lost‘s strong points, in the past they compensated with more creative orchestrations. The generic riffs fired off on the choruses from “The Shadows Within” through “Your Love is Colder Than Death” feel like half-hearted attempts to give some life to lukewarm melodies. Much more effective is the penultimate song, “Take Me Far Away”, which ends with an exciting burst of drums and riffs that bring the album to life, if only briefly.
This finale ends up bittersweet, feeling more like a whimper than a bang. Still, for fans of Chris Harms and company, it isn’t entirely lost. Chris Harms is able to elevate even the mildest songs. There isn’t a single bad song, though many are only slightly enjoyable. Unlike many of the wretched songs some of the most popular metal bands release, however, Lord of the Lost put a lot of thought and care into their music, and the Opvs Noir trilogy has plenty to offer those who love their metal less extreme, but still keeping an edge.
Rating : 2.5/5.0
DR : N/A | Format reviewed : Streaming
Record label : Napalm Records
Websites : Bandcamp | Facebook | Official website
Worldwide release : April 10, 2026
