HIRAES

The melodic death metal band Hiraes from Osnabrück and Hannover—composed of former members of Dawn Of Disease and Critical Mess—is back with their second studio album, “Dormant,” released in 2024.

Compared to their acclaimed 2021 debut, “Solitary,” it’s immediately apparent upon the first listen that Hiraes has not only grown and matured in their sound through their countless liveperformances, but also seem to have invested more time and creative energy into developing sophisticated songwriting and production to further refine their own distinctive trademarks. With the use of keyboards and new sonic elements, “Dormant” undoubtedly sounds fresh, without sacrificing the nuances that made their first album such a hit on the scene.

With brutal vocals, haunting melodies, and aggressive guitars, Hiraes now play up their trademarks even more intensely on “Dormant,” impressing listeners with versatile drumming, catchy riffs, and captivating soundscapes—all topped off by an impressive vocal performance from singer Britta. The epic intro to the album opener “Through The Storm” quickly erupts into a thunderous melodic death metal inferno, while the band delivers a versatile performance on furious tracks like “We Owe No One.” Thematically, the latest Hiraes album explores the challenges, struggles, and resilience of society and aims to inspire listeners to find peace and strength by focusing on themselves—a theme that ultimately comes into its own in the monumental title track “Dormant.”

Hiraes’ second studio album turns out to be a rousing, intense, and dynamic melodic death metal album that is both brutal and dark, yet full of melodic grandeur and melancholy. “Dormant” comes highly recommended, especially to fans of Insomnium, Dark Tranquillity, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, and At The Gates.