Here is the noteworthy reappearance of this Norwegian gothic metal band - the third full-length album for Morten Veland since he left Tristania to found Sirenia. A couple of years after the not so successful "An Elexir for Existance" the quartet makes a comeback with fresh ideas and exciting new tunes. Seems like the years of idleness helped Veland to put together melodic compositions with heavy sound and lighter vocals. The beauty & the beast type of vocals are not as widely used in this album as they were in the previous ones. Instead, they bank on Monika Pedersen's angelic voice, whispers and, of course, the choir. Just for the record - Monika (ex-Sinphonia) joined Sirenia in 2006 after Henriette Bordvik left the band in the end of 2005. Although the album is slightly leaning towards a more commercial sound, the musicians are true to their style. All the songs have the typical ups and downs in the melody, backed by powerful drums and strong riffs. There are also a few nice high-pitched solos, which are a good supplement to the final product. The stories told are filled with nostalgia, pain and sorrow, but also with strength, devotion and determination. The atmosphere carries the shade of an elegy, but the music inspires a feeling of security and faith... The lyrics deal with human existence, emotions and states of mind. In general, "Nine Destinies and a Downfall" has a good, catchy atmosphere, probably because of the superiority of the soft female vocals. The record could be considered as a decline in comparison to Morten Veland's older work, but it's quite satisfying. I couldn't put it above "At Sixes and Sevens", but maybe on the same level...? However, having in mind the long time that has passed, a little more was expected.