I've been a fan of Mariana's Rest ever since discovering them around the release of Fata Morgana during the pandemic in 2021. Their melancholic lamentations provided a fitting soundtrack to a bleak period, and they've stayed with me ever since. They kick off 2026 with their fifth album, The Bereaved, which presents a slightly more accessible version of the band. While still dark and moody, The Bereaved feels more approachable than 2023's Auer, largely thanks to Jakko Mäntymma's compelling vocal performance, which clearly separates harsh and clean deliveries. Musically, it's slow, heavy, oppressive, and brooding, steeped in melody, which is exactly what you'd expect from a Finnish band operating in this space.

At nearly an hour in length, The Bereaved flirts with danger for an album intent on smothering the listener in sorrow. Thankfully, the band's strong sense of melody and solid songwriting ensure a steady, cohesive flow of misery, only briefly broken up by the atmospheric interlude "Tyhjä" and the welcome reprieve of the surprisingly upbeat "Diamonds in the Rough." Mariana's Rest may not stand far apart from other Finnish bands in this style, but if you enjoy Swallow the Sun, Insomnium, or Hanging Garden, this will absolutely scratch that particular itch.