Green Carnation to Release Final A Dark Poem Album on September 4, 2026
Green Carnation, the Norwegian progressive metal outfit, is set to drop the final chapter of its ambitious trilogy on September 4, 2026. The record, A Dark Poem, Part III: The Messiah Complex, will arrive through Season of Mist and is already available for pre‑order on the label’s website.
The new album follows A Dark Poem, Part I: The Shores of Melancholia, released on 5 September 2025, and A Dark Poem, Part II: The Walls of Shattered Dreams, which entered the market on 3 April 2026. The trio of releases was conceived as a story that could be heard in separate parts while still forming a larger narrative. Vocalist Kjetil Nordhus said the trilogy is ‘by far our biggest achievement since Light of Day, Day of Darkness’ and that it ‘returns to the epic storytelling that put us on the map back in 2001.’ He added that the band believes Part III ‘saves the best for last.’
Bassist and primary lyricist Stein Roger Sordal explained that the goal of A Dark Poem was ‘to build a completely new musical universe.’ He noted that while the direction evolved during the writing process, the conclusion was planned from the beginning. ‘Part III brings them all together into a unified whole,’ Sordal said.
The album’s tracklist contains four compositions that total 38 minutes and 31 seconds: 1. Unconditional Artificial Chemistry – 6:09 2. The Messiah Complex – 6:48 3. Broken Souls, Common Enemies – 8:45 4. A Dark Poem – Orchestral Suite – 16:47
Alongside the announcement, Green Carnation released a music video for the first single, “Unconditional Artificial Chemistry.” The clip debuted on the band’s social‑media channels and showcases the new material that will appear on the September release. The single is also available for pre‑purchase, with full album pre‑orders opening on the same day.
The band has scheduled a series of live performances that will feature the complete trilogy. In 2026, Green Carnation will play: - 1 August – Feke Zaj Festival, Hungary - 12 September – Kilden Performing Arts Centre, Kristiansand, Norway - 25 September – Bucharest Prog Day II, București, Romania - 26 September – Be Prog! My Friend, Barcelona, Spain
In 2027, the group will return to Norway for a performance at Karmøygeddon on 1 May, where the full A Dark Poem set will be presented.
Season of Mist, the independent label that has released Green Carnation’s recent work, has a history of supporting progressive and avant‑garde metal acts. The label’s partnership with the band continues a long‑standing relationship that began with earlier releases such as Leaves of Yesteryear (2020) and The World Without a View (2020). The upcoming album adds to the label’s catalog of concept‑driven projects.
Green Carnation formed in 1990 in Kristiansand, Norway, and has evolved from its death‑metal origins into a band known for atmospheric progressive metal. The A Dark Poem trilogy represents a return to the narrative style that first brought the group international attention in the early 2000s.
With the September 4 release date confirmed, fans and industry observers can anticipate the final chapter of the trilogy. Pre‑orders are open, and the band’s 2026–2027 tour will provide live opportunities to experience the complete narrative.
