CARMERIA Embrace Gothic Grandeur and Symphonic Metal on New Album ‘Ex Cathedra’
Australian gothic and symphonic metal outfit CARMERIA return with their third full-length album, blending cinematic arrangements, dark romanticism, and deeply personal themes into their most ambitious
chapter yet.
Seth Metoyer | Metal Crawlspace
There’s something wonderfully theatrical about a band that can take the melancholy of gothic rock, wrap it in sweeping symphonic arrangements, and still deliver the kind of chorus that makes you want to throw your fist in the air. Australian outfit CARMERIA have built their identity around precisely that combination, and their upcoming third studio album, Ex Cathedra, looks to push that formula even further.
Arriving independently on October 30, 2026, the ten-track release finds the Blue Mountains-based group expanding their established symphonic metal sound with a stronger melodic rock influence. The result promises plenty of gothic atmosphere, emotional intensity, and the larger-than-life musical presentation that has become central to CARMERIA's identity.
If your musical tastes occupy that shadowy territory where HIM, Nightwish, Kamelot, Ghost, and Powerwolf intersect, CARMERIA deserve a place on your radar.
Gothic Metal With a Human Pulse
At the center of Ex Cathedra sits an idea that gives the record some genuine emotional weight: suffering remains part of the human experience, yet despair doesn't have to write the final chapter.
Across its ten songs, CARMERIA explore grief, betrayal, resilience, love, and human connection. These themes have followed the band throughout its career, but Ex Cathedra appears to bring them into sharper focus.
The album's first single, "Caelira," arrived in August and introduced listeners to the record's darker emotional territory. Built around betrayal and disillusionment, the track examines the moment when personal ambition begins eroding relationships and trust. The song also explores the difficult process of letting go, recognizing that sometimes the healthiest way forward involves walking away from something once held dear.
September's follow-up, "Unto the Dawn," approaches hardship from a more compassionate perspective. Drawing on the band's experiences supporting loved ones through difficult periods, the song emphasizes solidarity, emotional support, and the importance of simply being present for someone who is struggling.
That emotional core extends to CARMERIA's relationship with their audience. The group has developed a dedicated community known as The Carmunity, connecting fans through live performances, Patreon, and online spaces.
The band has described its musical approach as "Misery You Can Dance To," a phrase that captures the strange beauty of finding catharsis in dark subject matter while the music carries you somewhere considerably more uplifting.
From the Blue Mountains to a Bigger Stage
CARMERIA's story reaches back to Sydney in 2012. Following the dissolution of the original lineup in 2013, founding guitarist Jerry Zahija rebuilt the project alongside vocalist and songwriter Jordan von Grae in 2014.
Keytarist Mishka Bobrov joined in 2018, with bassist Emma Louise Nagy completing the band's current core lineup in 2021.
Their musical catalog began with the Awakening EP in 2013, followed by the singles "Carpe Noctem" and "Solaris." Their first full-length album, Advenae, arrived in 2021, establishing the foundation for the band's growing reputation. The sophomore album, Tragédie D'amour, followed in 2024, with the Trinity: Volume I EP arriving in 2025.
Along the way, CARMERIA have toured Australia and shared stages with artists including Flyleaf, Wednesday 13, Battle Beast, Davey Suicide, Toehider, and Valhalore.
The band has also maintained a strong independent work ethic. Its members take active roles in songwriting, production, artwork, visual presentation, and the business side of their music. That hands-on approach has helped CARMERIA develop a consistent creative identity while keeping artistic decisions firmly within the group.
A Masquerade of Shadows and Sound
The visual world surrounding Ex Cathedra deserves some attention of its own.
For the album's accompanying music videos, CARMERIA have embraced an elaborate gothic masquerade aesthetic, complete with ornate masks, flowing cloaks, and vampiric imagery.
The videos for "Caelira" and "Unto the Dawn" were directed, filmed, and edited by Greg Oroth, with creative development by Jordan von Grae and production involving von Grae and Mishka Bobrov. Filming took place at VAMP by Lisa McGuigan in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales.
The result gives the album a visual personality that complements the group's theatrical musical approach, drawing from gothic romanticism and the spectacle of classic symphonic metal.
Jordan von Grae also handled the album's mixing, with Miro Mastering overseeing mastering. The artwork was designed by von Grae, illustrated by Hassane, and coordinated by Bobrov, while Matt Bartolo provided album photography.
For a fully independent band, that's an impressive amount of creative territory to manage internally.
‘Ex Cathedra’ Track Listing
Ex Cathedra
Wings
Unto the Dawn
The Ashenheart
Embrace the Moon
Phantasma
A Rose Divine
Caelira
Shadows in the Sunlight
Echoes of the Dream
CARMERIA Lineup
Jordan von Grae – Vocals
Jerry Zahija – Guitars
Mishka Bobrov – Keytar
Emma Louise Nagy – Bass
A New Chapter Begins October 30
With Ex Cathedra, CARMERIA continue carving out their own corner of the symphonic metal landscape, where gothic atmosphere, accessible melodies, and emotionally charged storytelling all share the spotlight.
There's something appealing about a band willing to embrace the theatrical side of heavy music while keeping its lyrical concerns grounded in experiences people actually live through. The costumes and orchestration create the spectacle. The stories give listeners something to carry home afterward.
For fans of melodic metal with a taste for gothic imagery and cinematic ambition, Ex Cathedra belongs on the October release calendar.
CARMERIA's third studio album, Ex Cathedra, arrives independently on October 30, 2026.
Be sure to follow our Metal Crawlspace "Crawlspace Cuts" Spotify playlist. We added the track "Unto the Dawn" to it and continue updating it with new music regularly.
Connect with CARMERIA:
Official Website: https://carmeria.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmeria/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarmeriaMusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CARMERIA
Bandcamp: https://carmeria.bandcamp.com
