After reaching crushing new peaks and delving into the deepest, darkest and most personal depths of their storied career during its opening chapters, the Norwegian prog bards Green Carnation are ending their critically-acclaimed album trilogy with a bold and uncompromising exclamation.
“A Dark Poem is by far our biggest achievement since Light of Day, Day of Darkness”, Green Carnation vocalist Kjetil Nordhus. “Our new album trilogy returns to the epic storytelling that put us on the map back in 2001. While the reception to Part I and Part II has been overwhelmingly positive for us, we do believe that Part III saves the best for last”.
Today, Green Carnation are releasing the title track as the second advanced single from A Dark Poem, Part III: The Messiah Complex. By performing a prog miracle, trilogy highlight “The Messiah Complex” reveals a dark truth about human nature.
“The title track from Part III of A Dark Poem is about our need to find external excuses for our behavior”, Green Carnation bassist and primary lyricist Stein Roger Sordal says. “This is nothing new, but with our uncritical way of working with our increasingly digital world, we seem unable to cope with the consequences of our actions”.
“‘The Messiah Complex’ is a standout song in the trilogy”, Nordhus adds. “The vibe to this song is quite unique for us, but it doesn’t take long to recognize that it is still very much a Green Carnation song. Bjørn’s guitar work lifts the song up, together with Jonathan’s drumming and, of course, Stein Roger’s bass and vocals during the bridge”.
Listen to “The Messiah Complex” below:
A Dark Poem, Part III: The Messiah Complex comes out September 4, 2026 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order
Catch Green Carnation during their upcoming hometown shows and European summer festival dates.
During their headlining show in September at the Kilden Performing Arts Centre, the band will perform A Dark Poem in its entirety for the first and final time. Already, fans from 18 different countries have purchased tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Green Carnation 2026 + 2027 Show Dates
August 1 - Ungarn, Hungary @ Feke Zaj Festival [TICKETS]
September 12 - Kristiansand, Norway @ Kilden Performing Arts Centre [TICKETS]#
September 25 - Bucuresti, Romania @ Bucharest Prog Day II [TICKETS]
September 26 - Barcelona, Spain @ Be Prog! My Friend [TICKETS]
May 1, 2027 - Kopervik, Norway @ Karmøygeddon [TICKETS]
#Performing A Dark Poem, Part I-III
With A Dark Poem, Part III: The Messiah Complex, Green Carnation finish a masterpiece that stands alongside Light of Day, Day of Darkness as the defining statement of their storied career.
Recording lineup
Kjetil Nordhus - Vocals
Stein Roger Sordal - Bass, Rhythm Guitars, Lead Guitars, Keyboards
Bjørn Harstad - Lead Guitars, Effects
Endre Kirkesola - Keyboards, Synthesizers, Organs, Effects
Jonathan Alejandro Perez - Drums
Guest musicians
Ingrid Ose - Flute on “Broken Souls, Common Enemies”
Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and Opera Choir on “A Dark Poem - Orchestral Suite”
Live lineup
Kjetil Nordhus - Vocals
Stein Roger Sordal - Bass
Tchort - Guitars
Bjørn Harstad - Guitars
Trond Breen - Guitars
Endre Kirkesola - Keyboards
Recording & Mixing Studio
dUb Studio
Mastering Studio
Rorysound Studios
Production Credits
Producers - Endre Kirkesola, Stein Roger Sordal, Kjetil Nordhus
Mixing & Sound Engineer - Endre Kirkesola
Mixing Assistant — Bjørn Harstad
Mastering Engineer — Lawrence Mackrory
Credits for “A Dark Poem - Orchestral Suite”
Recorded at Kilden Performing Arts Centre in Kristiansand, Norway
Performed by the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and Kristiansand Opera Choir
Symphone Orchestra Conductor - Alexander Hanson
Choir Preparation and Conductor - Anne Haugland Balsnes
Mixing & Sound Engineer - Simen Endresen Hefte
Mastering Studio - Rorysound Studios
Mastering Engineer - Lawrence Mackrory
Cover artist
Niklas Sundin
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/greencarnationadarkpoempart3
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