At Sixes and Sevens

The orchestral gothic metal of Morten Veland's Sirenia is more than ambitious on the group's debut, At Sixes and Sevens -- it's almost cosmic in scope and epic by any standard. After carefully honing his skills in the more collaborative Tristania, Veland holds nothing back on this 2002 Napalm offering. A cadre of operatic vocalists and classical musicians wrap Veland's songs in a composite sheen that's rare even within a genre known for grand soundscapes. A few plodding numbers (the title track and "Lethargica") miss their mark, but when highlights like the anthemic "Shadow of Your Own Self" get into gear, At Sixes and Sevens rolls like thunder and flows like the bitter tears of Veland's less-accomplished goth/doom colleagues. ~ Vincent Jeffries