With 33 songs and over two hours of music, Lord of the Lost have written an ambitious trilogy, thankfully stretched over eight months instead of released all at once. On Opvs Noir , the band turns to the darker, more gothic facets 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 across 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 the Daniel Craig James Bond run, it can simply be disappointing.
Unlike the more energetic, sometimes showy orchestrations of the two previous records, Vol. 3 proves much gentler. The gothic symphonic elements are often paired with softer pop/rock tracks, many of which aim for mood over hooks. The opening song “Kill the Lights” starts with a pop beat, some cello and a growling 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 the effort with his melodic cadence. Although altogether less exciting, Vol. 3 offers plenty of catchy ballads and duets, including “La Vie Est Hell”, performed with outgoing Kissin’ Dynamite frontman Hannes Braun. It does nothing special, and yet I often find it playing in my head repeatedly.
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 techno-industrial pop anthems of Rammstein for people who don’t quite fit into mainstream society. While «I’m a Diamond» is the catchiest song on offer, the lyrics are a little contrived. «I Hate People» flips its misanthropic title, turning its ire toward those who seek to impose their narrow ideology on others. Lyrically, «My Funeral», which brings to mind 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 gentle album from going stale.
While the songs here are well-written and well-performed, there’s no doubt that 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 strengths, in the past they compensated with more creative orchestrations. The generic riffs fired at the choruses from “The Shadows Within” to “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 a thrilling burst of drums and riffs that bring the record to life, if only for a moment.
This finale turns out bittersweet, as if it resembles more of a whimper than a bang. However, for fans of Chris Harms and his crew, it isn’t entirely a loss. Chris Harms is able to elevate even the gentlest songs. There isn’t a single bad song, although many are only mildly enjoyable. Unlike many of the atrocious songs released by some of the most popular metal bands, however, Lord of the Lost put a lot of thought and care into their music, and the Opvs Noir trilogy has a lot to offer those who love their metal less extreme, but still retaining an edge.
Rating : 2.5/5.0
DR : N/A | Format rating : Streaming
Label : Napalm Records
Websites : Bandcamp | Facebook | Official website
Worldwide release : April 10, 2026
