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It is an interesting little package we have here from German symphonic metallers Coronatus, who seem to be pushing what little boundaries there are left in the Gothic scene by being fronted by two female vocalists and singing in three different languages. On paper this all sounds like an innovation, but in practice it is a rather innocuous entity that really opens no doors for outsiders, but offers a bowl of soup and a bun for admirers of the interior. Simply put, Coronatus are a Symphonic/Gothic Metal fan's wet dream. They incorporate practically every element of the genre into their music, focusing their efforts on making a dark, impenetrable loggia of tracks that exercise the glory of this style. The most obvious reference point being Visions of Atlantis, we also have the theatrical nuance of Nightwish, the orchestral flamboyancy of Epica, and even the sporadic intensity of After Forever. The tonic fashioned by this well of influence is quite refreshing, particularly in the drum department, as stickman Mats Kurth of Might of Lilith fame has an astounding pair of feet, absolutely battering the skins for all they're worth with enormous vigor. Twin vocalists Carmen R Schafer and Ada Flechtner add a new dimension to the music, which is a nice deviance from the habitual male role.

The production is top notch, and surprisingly there is much more of a metal crunch to Lux Noctis than usual, giving the songs a heavy, yet expansively accessible sound. This debut plays like a dream, with a glut of driving rhythms and operatic melodies, but it is the hammering slaughter of "Hot and Cold" that makes Lux Noctis a must buy for genre fan boys. Those on a more tumultuous platform however, should make plans to breathe in the overpopulation, and just wait for another train to arrive.