Morten Veland & Tristania parted ways and Rhony Thorsen of Trail Of Tears guest screams along to one of Tristania's darkest albums. I'd say download it all, but if you're picky download "WORMWOOD" and enjoy one of Tristania's most memorable and dark song.
In my opinion, this is Tristania at their finest. Very hard rock, tempered by sophisticated classical and choral concepts. The vocals are especially noteworthy, with death metal growling, clean goth baritone vocals, black metal shrieking, the beautiful mezzo-soprano ethereal vocals of Vibeke Stene, choir, and madrigal type ensemble singing. Also, Tristania effectively uses shifts in dynamics and tempo throughout, to keep the music varigated. An intelligent and sophisticated album - at the same time, unabashedly metal.
I wish that they used more of the female voice in the recording part to preview. I only downloaded those with the wonderful vocal of the female. Her voice is just amazing overall.
Well, I'm not going to join the love-in for this album. Technically, it's reasonably accomplished. It does have an overall theme conveyed through the same sounding grinding heavy metal guitar riff. But, the combining of choral voices and metal riffs isn't anything new or groundbreaking... What I heard in the 30 seconds of intro(emusic take note, 1 minute is usually when most goth songs start to find their hook), wasn't enough to convince me to risk my remaining downloads, but from 'Hatred Grows' onward my curiousity piqued. I can't honestly say that it's entirely the artists fault that I found them to be average overall. Is 60 seconds of preview too much to ask?
Thats the only word I can describe this album being, Atmospheric. The songs themselves are dark but have a lighter tone. This one isn't my favorite album but I enjoy it. I can see the changes from this album and the new one Ashes. I like the music I just think the videos are somewhat cartoony silly. Otherwise check these folks out.
The album that got me started on Tristania, the opening track sets the tone on the entire album. The choir-type sound, the orchestral influence, and of course, the dark riffs that we've come to expect from Tristania. All of these blend in to make a very enjoyable album.
In "World of Glass" Tristania returns without Morten Veland - this time their music is harder than the previous albums but just as melodic. It has all that you would expect from Tristania and more - a great listen. The classic choirs you remember from previous Tristania albums are still there accompanied by melodic violins, black voices and clean male & female voices.
