Infamous for self-indulgent melodrama and innumerable costume changes, female-fronted gothic metal is, by all accounts, a much-maligned movement. Emotive yet unmistakably extreme, ‘Bloodstained Endurance’ comprises a blistering exception to the overblown archetype. Undoubtedly one of the genre’s most dynamic outfits to date, the eloquently entitled, Trail of Tears are presently ample in adrenalin and instrumental complexity alike. Reconciling clean, female vocals with a particularly demoniacal range of death grunts, the Norwegian sextet’s latest offering is at once groundbreaking and seamlessly assembled.
Punctuated by a series of intermittent, blastbeat-driven attacks, ‘Faith Comes Knocking’ encompasses a seldom-encountered fusion of ambience and calculating, death metal-tinged aggression. ‘Take Aim. Reclaim. Prevail’ illustrates similar ferocity while maintaining a poised, orchestral sound quality throughout. Loaded with hooks, semi-acoustic meanderings and an exquisite violin solo, title track ‘Bloodstained Endurance’ is overwhelmingly infectious.
Showcasing operatic and power metal-inspired exertions alike, vocalist Cathrine Paulsen’s diverse range presents a commanding departure from the simpering notes of her warbling contemporaries. Though admittedly indelicate in places, the astounding vocal stamina exhibited here remains, nonetheless, a revolutionary trait.
Reminiscent of Nightwish’s former, ethereal glory, ‘Storm of Will’ exhibits vocal fluidity and epic axemanship, underpinned extravagantly by a range of symphonic, keyboard-driven flourishes. With its bass grooves and faintly industrial flavour, ‘Once Kissed by the Serpent (Twice Bitten by Truth)’ pushes the boundaries of convention still further, producing a bludgeoning, though consistently atmospheric end result.
http://www.trailoftears.no/
http://www.myspace.com/trailoftearsmetal
