Although billed, along with the soon to be released graphic novel adaptation, as the third and final part of the “Zornheim Asylum for the Criminally Insane” story, that description is a little misleading. It’s more like a spectacularly crafted director’s cut with intriguing alternate versions of the themes explored on the first two albums. In theory, all the songs have been published before, but the new versions are completely reimagined on all levels including structure, instruments, soundscape and in some cases even language.

While I would suggest fans of symphonic extreme metal listen to the albums in order to get a complete feel for the story as opposed to only the individual songs, these versions might be more palatable to more casual listeners. Hopefully it will whet their appetite to immerse themselves in the full experience.

The Zornheim Asylum story itself is told on the first two albums, “Where Hatred Dwells and Darkness Reigns” and “The Zornheim Sleep Experiment.” The first album introduces you to the diseased minds of the inmates that will later involuntarily be subjected to the cruel and torturous experiments of Dr. Bettelheim and the second tells the story of the sleep experiment itself which reveals that the doctor is probably more insane than any of the inmates.

“The Forgotten Inmates” starts with an acoustic version of “Keep the Devil Away” which I have already reviewed here.

It is followed by a Swedish folk version of “Slumber Comes in Time” which is hauntingly beautiful and even darker than the original due to a few lines inconspicuously added to the lyrics.

Third up is a “lockdown” version of “Whom the Night Brings.” I’m really amazed at how this song works so well both in the original intense growling vocal version and in this acoustic and clean vocal version. A casual listener would never suspect it was performed by a symphonic extreme metal band.

Next to last we have an acapella version of Corpus Vile. Once again showing their talent and range, this one sounds like it was sung by Gregorian monks...evil Gregorian monks.

The EP closes with a French acoustic version of “Keep the Devil Away.” It sounds great, but while I understand the English, Swedish, and most of the Latin, from the other songs on the EP, my French isn’t good enough to pass judgement on the translation.

While this EP along with the stunning graphic novel (which I sadly am not allowed to share any imagery from, but you’ll find examples of it in the video below) are billed as the end of this story, I hope the band decides to keep the Zornheim Asylum open so they can tell us more stories from it’s haunted hallways.

The EP is scheduled to be released on November 3rd and the voices in my head give it and the graphic novel 9 out of 10 flaming skulls.