Metalcatto
Oh, how happy it makes me to get another Soliloquium album. Ever since Contemplations, the project has captivated me with its deep and fresh approach to Death/Doom, and though I’ve encountered its latest work as a bit safe, the overall vibe is still one of consistency and love for the game—even if the music sounds like burying your recently deceased pet. Let’s go for it, then.
I think Upheaval is trying to be different. It’s easy for this type of music to become ultra mellow and almost cheesy, but Soliloquium avoids this by keeping its pain raw enough to keep us engaged in this endless sorrow. There aren’t too many tracks here, but they don’t feel boring. There’s enough change and balance between rage and loneliness to keep us all healthy. The pacing is deliberate, the atmosphere is thick, and the whole thing feels like a slow, painful descent into a very personal abyss.
I know a Death/Doom act lives and dies by its guitar melodies, but Upheaval has a lot of heart-wrenching vocal work that also got my attention—or at least I don’t recall it being this expressive before. In general, Soliloquium is a pretty expressive act. The music, even if similar to what we’ve had before, is still gutting and well executed. There’s not much for me to complain about when it comes to solid performance, but I do have some respectful feedback.
There are moments that have the intention to create atmosphere with soft and almost gentle passages. They might catch a few of you off guard. As in, you think the track is done, but no—sit down and wait a bit, we’re going to make you sadder. That’s okay, but I think some of you might be pulled out of the immersion process. Also, as many times before, Upheaval is consistency over madness, so you know what to expect. It doesn’t take risks, but it doesn’t need to. It knows its lane and stays in it.
I’m fairly satisfied with getting some Soliloquium here and there. The project might not bend space-time, but it delivers exactly what you want from your Melodic Death/Doom act: crushing despair that, in all its horror, delivers glimpses of beauty. There’s no joke here. Upheaval is too serious. Hope you brought your tissues. It’s not an album for sunny days or casual listens. It’s for the moments when you need to sit with your sadness and let it wash over you.
Label: Meuse Music Records
Release date: October 23rd, 2026
Website: https://deathdoom.com/
Country: Sweden
Score: 3.7/5.0
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