No matter how long or where the journey has taken them, Green Carnation have always sought to climb the highest mountains. While founded by Emperor's former bassist Tchort in the early '90s, the Norwegians quickly amassed a cult following while blazing their own trail through fields of symphonic doom, hard rock, acoustic plucking and progressive metal.
Had they never returned from hiatus during the mid-2000s, this band would've been remembered for completing one of the most ambitious individual epics in metal's vaunted archives. And yet, one mighty tale - or three, to be exact - continued to elude them. That is, until now. Two decades removed from its initial conception, Green Carnation have finally completed their masterpiece.
Today, the prog auters are announcing the first part of A Dark Poem, a grand and gloomy album trilogy that was inspired by Arthur Rimbaud's dreamy ode to Shakespeare's Ophelia. The Shores of Melancholiaremains grounded in the band's newfound heavy hooks, but though heavenly to the ears, lead single "In Your Paradise" is awash with doubt over our distorted view of the world.
"We are so excited to announce our long-awaited album trilogy", Green Carnation says. "A Dark Poem promises to take listeners to the highest tops as well as their darkest inner rooms. Its opening chapter begins in a melancholic place that we have long associated with our music".
Watch the video for "In Your Paradise" below:
A Dark Poem, Part I: The Shores of Melancholia comes out September 5, 2025.
Pre-order
https://orcd.co/greencarnationadarkpoem1
Pre-save on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/2o7sN7WqyIQDx96WvqtYUm?si=qoQVyW1ZR9e0cVH3FHPIIg
Green Carnation will premiere all of The Shores of Melancholia live for the first time later this year at ProgPower USA.
The video for "In Your Paradise" was directed and edited by Rikard Amodei.
Additional video credits
Tor Sellevold Solbakken - Camera and color grading
Walter Cortes - Camera
Alexander De Senger - Grip
Stian Urdalen Jonson - Grip
Devin Michael Jonson - Grip
Bjornar Eidet Skutlaberg - Lights
Joakim Stien - Lights
Ruben Lervåg - Set sound
Lars Gunnar Liestøl - Still photos
Green Carnation would like to especially thank Cultiva and Kilden Performing Arts Centre, along with Mike Moen and the crew at LX Design.
Current line-up
Kjetil Nordhus - Vocals
Tchort - Guitar
Bjørn Harstad - Guitar
Stein Roger Sordal - Bass
Endre Kirkesola - Keyboards
Jonathan Alejandro Perez – Drums
Recording line-up
Kjetil Nordhus - Vocals
Bjørn Harstad - Guitar, Effects
Stein Roger Sordal - Bass, Guitars, Keyboards
Endre Kirkesola - Keyboards, Synthesizers, Organs, Effects
Jonathan Alejandro Perez – Drums
Guest Musicians
Ingrid Ose - Flute on “In Your Paradise” & “Me My Enemy”.
Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved) – Harsh Vocals on “The Slave That You Are”.
Henning Seldal – Percussion on “Too Close to the Flame”.
Production Credits
Recorded at DUB Studio in Kristiansand, Norway
Produced by Endre Kirkesola, Stein Roger Sordal & Kjetil Nordhus.
Sound Engineering by Endre Kirkesola.
Mixed by Endre Kirkesola
Mastered by Lawrence Mackrory
Cover Art
Niklas Sundin (https://www.nsundin.com)
Photography
Lars Gunnar Liestøl
Bio
George Pacheco
Pre-order
https://orcd.co/greencarnationadarkpoem1
Pre-save on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/2o7sN7WqyIQDx96WvqtYUm?si=qoQVyW1ZR9e0cVH3FHPIIg
Follow Green Carnation
Bandcamp: https://greencarnationsom.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenCarnationNorway
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/green2carnation/
Twitter (X): https://x.com/Green2Carnation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2vfEaTADayEniT7xbG-XCA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ZaJhNBAhJ3HjPsWiB9sDc
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/green-carnation/72866964
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/8192
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/23079