Tristania, Darkest white

After my beloved Vibeke’s departure and an album that was a whole lot better than I expected and at the same time a whole lot weaker than I expected, I had no idea what Tristania’s new album would have in store for me. I was hoping that Mary would consolidate her place in the band and that all the lineup changes would finally stop and I guess I got what I asked for. I’m just not sure what to think of it, still. I could call it one of the most successful massive changes a favourite of mine went through, but still something is missing. Probably Vibeke and the candles 😛

Number – a very aggressive song, condimented with female vocals, in the vein of Ashes (or in the vein of what Ashes was intended to be, had Vibeke’s melancholic voice not toned it down and made it more gloomy). I have to say I really like Mary’s voice colour, she has that same Italian Cristina Scabbia-like style of singing, but with actual charisma and individuality.

Darkest white – another old school Tristania song. Or should I say middle school? Anyway, it sounds like the logical continuation of Ashes and Illumination and I love it! Kjetil is a very welcome addition. He may not be Osten, but he’s close enough to make me happy, I like what he’s doing on this song. I also like the rawness of the grunts and instrumental. For Tristania standards, it’s a pretty brutal song.

Himmelfal – another good song, this is already a dozen times better then Rubicon! I’m so happy they have the low gloomy vocals I so much love in Tristania. Kjetil has been upgraded to a VERY welcome addition! Mary’s voice is stealing me bit by bit as well, she may not have Vibeke’s uniqueness and emotion, but I think she’s better technically and definitely more versatile.

Requiem – I like the beginning, but by the middle of it, it starts to become a bit trailing. I know Tristania have never been fast paced, but at least they had a ton of dramatism to make up for it. I guess the growling part could wake it up from its monotony, but it starts and ends so suddenly that it doesn’t even seem from the same song. It sounds like someone went to the Sirenia school of songwriting – when in doubt it’s not heavy/gothic enough, throw in some grunts/choirs and voila, everything is better now.

Diagnosis – I find the overlapping of the heavy-weighting instrumental with the bright chorus a bit weird and by the end it becomes pretty boring. That’s what I was talking about when I said something is missing. They start out so well and then everything falls into mediocrity 🙁

Scarling – did I mention I love Kjetil? And I swear it’s not only because I’m resistant to change and he’s the strongest connection with old Tristania. The whole song is awesome! Creepy, ominous… the only thing I don’t like is how the “curse all your colours” lights up the mood. I hate it when people do that, if it’s gloomy, let it be gloomy all the way. If you want cheerfulness, write another song! Mixing moods and styles like that rarely works and it requires more musical genius then most bands have.

Night on earth – glad to be back to the aggressive Tristania. Not that I want heaviness at all costs, but honestly this is the thing they do best nowadays. I do wish Mary would have some nuance and variation in her singing, though. She’s screaming way too much, it’s becoming tiring at some point.

Cathedral – there it is, nuance! And she does it so wonderfully, I have no idea why she didn’t try some of it in the previous song as well. This is actually one of my favourite tracks, variety and changes of pace do wonders!

Lavender – another good one, I love the chorus, very melodic and intense at the same time. It’s interesting how Kjetil turned into the lead singer and now it’s Mary that’s there only for condimentation.

Cypher – more of that creepy emotional low voice and that crushing slow and powerful instrumental, how can I not be happy? Every time Kjetil sings I feel like there’s this intensity that’s barely contained and ready to burst out, which is very fitting for the atmosphere Tristania are trying to build.

Arteries – the chorus sounds like an alternative metal band that got lost in the middle of a death metal festival. I don’t know what to say about it, I kinda like it, but then I kinda don’t…

Overall this is a very frustrating album for me. They have the potential, but they’re not quite there. Too much repetition and monotony and I don’t know if it’s because they’re not very creative or because they didn’t give it enough time to flow. It’s definitely more coherent, darker and more atmospheric then Rubicon, but sometimes they trail too much. However, the first and last songs of the album show that they can do more, so maybe now they will finally settle and find their flow again.