Album Review: ROME – The Dublin Sessions II / Civitas Solis / Anthology 2016-2025 (Trisol Music Group GmbH)

April 25th is a significant day for Luxembourgish singer-songwriter ROME. Releasing not one, not two, but three new records via Trisol Music Group GmbH. Fans will be able to experience ‘Civitas Solis’, ‘The Dublin Sessions II’, and Anthology 2016-2025’.

This is a lot of ROME to dig into, so this review is going to cover all three albums in concise fashion. Beginning with the one that I was most interested in, The Dublin Sessions II. Partially because the original Dublin Session was awesome, and I still listen to the track Evropa Irredenta regularly. Partially because this side of ROME just appeals more to me.

On The Dublin Sessions II, the multifaceted artist manages to, once again, capture the spirit of the country, from both an ancient and modern perspective. Giving each track even more authenticity via fellow travellers and local talents such as Ronan O Snodaigh (Dead Can Dance & Kíla) on bodhran, Eoin O Cionnaith on uilleann pipes (Van Morrison & Christy Moore), Matthew Hanaphy on banjo and tin whistles, Goshia Gasior on violin, and Andy Slowey on bass.

Combining traditional Irish folk music with ROME’s contemporary proto folk, there’s a lot of unique listens here, and everyone will have their favourite. However, there are some notable highs courtesy of the wonderful melodies of Muse of Fire and the dramatic Eirigh Anois with its Gaelic spoken word section. As well as the energetic floor filler that is Hold the Line, the sombre prettiness of my White Rose, and the powerful folksiness of Deoch an Dorais. If you loved The Dublin Session, you’ll love The Dublin Sessions II.

ROME – The Dublin Sessions II Track Listing:

1. Upon the Emerald Isle
2. Give your Heart to the Hawks
3. Muse of Fire
4. An der Landwehr
5. Eirigh Anois
6. Hold the Line
7. My White Rose
8. The Tsarist Army
9. Caoineadh na Solas
10. La Peau Derniere
11. Deoch an Dorais

Next, we have Civitas Solis, a dramatic look at Europe and its current existence, delivered in ROME’s unique storytelling way. Beginning in captivating fashion with La Nouvelle, the emotional power and folk ion of this track reaches a high bar immediately. It is just the start though, and this is a diverse album with a lot of detail. Where not everything works personally, but plenty does, and no-one can deny the creativity of effervescent tracks like In Brightest Black, retro-synth infused tracks like By Tradition, and lovable dramatic efforts like Mar’yana.

That’s a small taste of what this album has to offer, but rest assured it’s every bit the ROME that fans have come to love. Relaxing, ionate, meditative, and powerful, amongst many other things.

ROME – Civitas Solis Track Listing:

1. La Nouvelle
2. In Brightest Black
3. Tomorrow We Live
4. Food for Powder
5. Ad Vindicta
6. By Tradition
7. Dannazione
8. Bring Me the Head of Romanez
9. The Western Wall
10. White Flags
11. Jupiter
12. Mar’yana
13. Men Against Time
14. Herculaneum

The third release is an anthology album featuring twenty tracks from the ROME era of 2016 to 2025. Where the artist moved into more contemporary territories and found inspiration in the more philosophical side of life.

A chance for fans to relive some of the finest moments of ROME’s past decade, and new fans to hear some of the tracks that define the artist. It is a very comprehensive release, covering a wide swathe of ROME’s history, with a couple of live tracks thrown in too. It is, of the three, the most recommendable release because of its variety, and ROME has carefully selected the tracks that make up the release.

It’s so much bang for your buck. Not one release, not two, but three, and each has plenty of merit. Quantity over quality? How about quantity and quality? After all, it’s ROME.

ROME – Anthology 2016-2025 Track Listing:

1. The Secret (For Paul Celan)
2. Solar Caesar
3. Ächtung, Baby!
4. How Came Beauty against this Blackness
5. Who Only Europe Know
6. Kali Yuga über alles
7. Going Back to Kyiv (Live)
8. Parlez-Vous Hate
9. Walking the Atlal
10. Evropa Irredenta (feat. Thåström)
11. Todo Es Nada
12. Submission
13. Celine in Jerusalem
14. La Nouvelle
15. Skirmishes for Diotima (Live)
16. Hunter
17. Coriolan
18. The Angry Cup (feat. Adam Nergal Darski of Behemoth, Me And That Man)
19. One Lion’s Roar
20. Alesia

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