I didn’t know who Flowerleaf was until late last year when they released a single called “Silksong” that came to my attention via an Instagram ad. If you are a video game aficionado or just happen to be familiar with the Hollow Knight series, then you won’t be surprised to discover that the song is indeed inspired by the video game Hollow Knight: Silksong. I was blown away by it, and I decided to do an immediate deep dive into the band’s history. Originally hailing from Brazil, but now calling Germany home, they have been around since 2017, a surprise considering they were an unknown to me in a genre I bias toward. Flowerleaf started out more as a power metal band with symphonic elements, releasing their debut album, “Stronger,” in 2018. They followed that by releasing a handful of singles and ultimately an EP in 2023 entitled “Dreamerie: The Prelude,” seeing the band’s sound evolve to a more theatrical form of symphonic metal. Now in February 2026, they have released their second full length album, “Dreamerie,” the successor to their 2023 EP that also sees more evolution and refinement to their sound.

At its core this is very much symphonic metal, complete with epic orchestration and a pervasive cinematic feel.  The band embraces a heavier approach to the genre, very guitar forward featuring crushing riffs and great guitar solos, thick and heavy bass, and absolutely pulverizing drums. They retain many of the power elements from their earlier days, but these elements are always dressed in symphonic attire. There are also death metal elements, generally manifesting as transitional sections similar to Epica, adding even heavier flavors to the mix. Lead vocalist Vivs Takahashi is phenomenal, exhibiting extraordinary range that can soar into the heavens, immerse you in dreamy melodies, or punch you in the mouth and knock you over. Her growls are used sparingly, but they are absolutely brutal, and her ability to shift reminds of vocalists like Noa Gruman and Ambre Vourvahis. The band employs dynamic and tempo changes regularly, adding rich textures to the compositions that create atmosphere and mood. Flowerleaf is comfortable whether blazing ahead and trampling everything ahead of them, soaring amidst a symphonic cavalcade while impressing you with their technical prowess, or slowing down and floating on a cloud while serenading you with dark gothic melodies. I get shades of Dialith, Solarus, Illumishade, and Epica at various points, but Flowerleaf has carved out their own sound here, crafting an incredible album that I have fallen in love with.

Cinematic wonder greets your ears as opener “Sandman” begins, feeling like a movie opening with its rhythmic drumming, enveloping symphonics, and soaring choir. It shifts gears just before the one minute mark, powerful speedy drums supporting a slick guitar melody, and then introduces you to the incredible vocals of Vivs Takahashi. The instruments again race ahead, drums blazing as the guitar melodies light a fire, paving the way for the hard hitting chorus. It has a killer melody that will get stuck in your head, followed by a sinister snarl that produces a cool dichotomy before slaying you with a fantastic guitar solo. The band deftly blends heft with soaring orchestration, punctuated by an extended symphonic throwdown at the four minute mark that acts as a slick musical bridge. The final iteration of the chorus melds into a furious race to the finish with soaring vocals, ending in similar cinematic wonder as it began. 

“The Wake” embraces the stank face riff, thick and crushing, bringing to mind Illumishade’s heavier moments, with a heavy drum assault. The verse is atmospheric and dreamy while still maintaining the heft, polyrhythmic aggression building the energy to the angelic chorus, all with light gothic touches that build an eerie ambiance. After the second verse, you get a progtastic jam session with thunderous drums keeping you off balance, and powerful riffing and a smoking hot guitar solo keeping the energy high. The reprisal of the chorus is epic and huge sounding, and right when you think the song is over, you are forced to headbang to an absolutely crushing ending.

“No Brakes” continues the big dirty riffs, cloaked in a shroud of ominous orchestration, utilizing regular tempo shifts and eerie background vocals to drive urgency and evoke emotion. Vivs’ vocals are impassioned, airy vibes encompassing while the drums, guitars, and keyboards create a heavy atmosphere. The first chorus leads into more forward eerie vocals, then punches you in the mouth with a death metal transition. After the second chorus, you get a complete melody change along with nice dynamics shifts, before returning to the original melody and closing out in creepy fashion. The song writing here is absolutely phenomenal, with tons of depth and intricacies that keep things fresh and interesting.

The title track opens with a fairytale feel, a slow cinematic backdrop featuring gorgeous emotive vocals from Vivs. One minute in and the song makes a hard shift into a bigger guitar-driven sound, with soaring vocals delivering a memorable melody. An extended guitar solo makes an entrance early, impressive in its technicality, making way for a dynamic drop featuring a somber vocal line, then crescendos to powerful drums supporting silky guitar melodies. This interplay of stark dynamic shifts continues, accentuating the surrounding cinematics while maintaining a big heavy feel, emulating the dreamland that the song wants to escape to. The melodies are passionate and massive, and this song demonstrates the bands ability to deliver theatrical symphonic metal that feels modern and heavy.

“Shoot for the Stars” has much more of a symphonic power metal vibe, playing homage to the band’s roots. The drums regularly gallop, allowing the guitar riffs to blaze and the guitar solos to shine. The vocals are punchy and in your face with an anthemic quality, while still maintaining Vivs’ trademark silkiness. The guitars seem to be having an absolute blast, with solo after solo, some great harmonies, and even neoclassical flourishes in the final one. As the song races to the finish line, you think it is done, only to get a folksy outro over crashing waves that segues seamlessly into “Melancolia em Em,” a gorgeous piano-driven piece drenched in a haunting gothic sheen and mesmerizing lead vocals. It is sung entirely in Portuguese, Vivs’ native tongue, and to say it is gorgeous would be an understatement. This song is absolutely captivating, alluring as it draws you into its melancholy passages. It does a great job breaking the pace up, allowing you to reflect while being immersed in its ethereal beauty, preparing you for what is next. 

And what is next? My favorite song, and my introduction to Flowerleaf, “Silksong.” It is bombastic, melding speedy power metal, theatrical symphonic metal, and death metal to create an absolutely epic feel. It begins with a huge cinematic opening, blazes ahead in the verse with dark melodies, and soars into the heavens with the incredible operatic chorus. The death metal bridge hits you like a sledgehammer and just sounds dark and sinister, before airy atmosphere guides you back to that incredible chorus, drums destroying everything in their path. The ending emanates bombast as a guitar solo flies over crushing riffs. At different times I get Dialith, Solarus, and Epica vibes, but holistically this is what I think is truly Flowerleaf, a genre defining song for them.

“Dreamcatchers” paints the air with  cinematic orchestral flourishes, then assaults you with a crushing guitar groove that takes on a bit of a thrashy industrial persona. The verses are ethereal and dreamy, slowing things down before the huge anthemic chorus takes hold, with the energy of the drums matching that of the swirling symphonics. The harmonized guitar solo has a killer melody and some nice progressions, setting up one final reprise of the chorus and a big finish.

Goth soaked rocker “Falling to the Sky” closes things out, opening with a thick driving bass-driven riff layered with guitar melodies and hefty chugs. The dark melodies equal the power of the instruments, allowing Vivs’ voice to soar while carrying a haunting quality. The second half drops everything temporarily for an atmospheric cloud, Vivs punching through, before swelling to massive heights as the guitars take over. Pianos join the fray, eventually standing alone with a gothic tinged melody closing things out.

This is easily one of the best symphonic metal albums I have heard in a long time. The consistent heaviness, beautiful melodies, cinematic orchestration, and fabulous song writing all collide in incredible fashion, setting a standard for this genre. Top to bottom the song writing is fantastic, and I am impressed with the diversity and myriad influences blended together without sacrificing a cohesive album feel. I am so excited to experience this music live next month, and I look forward to following Flowerleaf’s continuing journey.