BLWBCK

Shard

Splendor Noctis is the result of a powerful creative synergy between Férale (Indigo Raven) and Sol (Solventis), an instinctive sisterhood that has given rise to Shard. This five-track EP feels like a crown of thorns, each song a jagged branch worn with raw defiance. Cathartic from the very first line —Mother, I hate you!— which morphs within moments into Mother, I forgive you, Shard is an unflinching exploration of pain, anger, and ultimately, the transformative powers of forgiveness and healing. Beneath its cutting words lies a thread of ancestral light, a glimmer summoned throughout the EP’s five tracks (four songs if you're not counting the instrumental opener that reprises the theme of Mother). While steeped in the brooding aesthetics of dark folk and gothic rock, the record carries an unapologetically pop sensibility, evoking echoes of artists such as Tori Amos. At the heart of the project is the interplay between Férale and Sol’s voices, paired with piano lines that are both haunting and luminous. From this foundation, the duo builds a richly textured soundscape with the addition of guitars, drums, and nuanced arrangements, all crafted with the deft touch of Florent Soler, who also helmed the production. Each track claims its own distinct identity : Mother (again) evolves with the ceaseless emotional dynamism of its lyrics, culminating in a crescendo that recalls the drama of Kate Bush; the electrifying conclusion of Blame It On Me; the boldly cabaret-pop stylings of the ascending Porcelain Heart; the solemn and timeless resonance of Mirrored; or the final Overseas, where the piano retreats to make way for a poignant, guitar-driven ballad — a farewell cloaked in sorrow, barely hidden beneath its warm melody. Our motto has always been that life is a walkman and Shard fits seamlessly into that ethos. It fills a crucial space in our catalogue: dark pop where anger and sadness coexist, because, in the end, we are all fragile, beautifully damaged souls.