Album Review: The Subjective Opinion of 2025

Imagine a shadowed chamber of a hauntingly dark yet majestic castle, where Dracula himself sits upon a throne and Skeletor sneers from a distant corner – that’s the essence of this symphonic goth black metal album.

The album’s guitars carve jagged melodies that feel regal and ritualistic, yet razor-sharp, like a vampire’s cuspids, weaving harmonic minor scales with frostbitten precision. The drums are relentless, pounding like the elevated heartbeat of a dark empire – blast beats interlaced with sinister fills that feel almost ceremonial, as if keeping time for an unholy court. Bass lines lurk beneath, like haunted undercurrents, grounding the frenzy while accentuating the towering riffs above, all showcasing both technical skill and a wicked sense of drama.

Jakeb Bruce Morgan, the mastermind behind Chadarnook, is based in Christchurch, recorded and produced in his home studio, The Subjective Opinion of 2025 is a testament to the blood, sweat, tears, and sleepless nights that anyone familiar with the process knows it demands.

The journey begins with the haunting intro Scarlet Rot, a piece that could easily serve as the opening score to a horror film, its eerie tension slowly drawing the curtain back on the darkness to come.

My favourite tracks include Forsake Thine Necromance, Lured into a false sense of security from the ivories in the intro of the first track, into the first icy blood-curdling scream that rips your face right off the bone, you’re plunged into a realm where pandemonium and menace collide. Ventus Ad Caelum, which leans into pure chaos – so dark it received an Explicit lyrics tag on streaming platforms, despite containing none – take that as a metal win – and Storm, where the gothic majesty truly shines. 

Olivia Fisher (singer and former Miss Canterbury finalist – a girl after my own heart) and Queen B (storyteller/performer) make appearances on the album.

What sets Chadarnook’s style apart is the theatricality; every note feels designed to evoke imagery of swirling fog rising from decrepit graveyards where demons lurk. Every track is a spectacle, a twisted dance of gloom that demands attention.

In summary, there’s a lot going on – vocals, music and effects and it’s definitely an album that rewards repeat listens to truly appreciate how much has gone into the production. Would love to see this performed live! 

This track does not appear on this album but check out Chadarnook’s version of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (by Tchaikovsky) – single, which raised lawsuit concerns from the distribution company, so Jakeb dropped them and re-released all of his music independently; So get onto all platforms and support him by listening/downloading to all of his releases and help push those plays back up!

If you want a good chuckle, follow him on Instagram for some dry, quirky Rhys Darby vibes.

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