It was only when I started listening to this that I realised that Norwegians Theatre Of Tragedy had snuck in under my radar a bit and I have no real idea why. Looking through my boxes of promos I discovered 2000 album ‘Musique’ from when they were a slightly more electronic sounding band and had singer Liv Kristine Espenćs Krull who obviously now fronts Leaves Eyes. I admit that this is an album I have not played in absolutely ages and plan to give it a spin at the first opportunity.
Fast forward nine years and the band now have singer Nell Sigland who I do remember from her former band The Crest and this is the second album she has featured on since 2006 ‘Storm,’ another one that I must have inadvertently missed. Cutting straight to the chase, I really like this new one; it has an unmistakable Gothic flavour to it evident as soon as ‘Hide And Seek’ somewhat gloomily wraps fronds of shimmering guitars and keyboards around you. It is the male ‘beast’ vocals of Raymond István Rohonyi that first make an impression before the ‘beauty’ of Nell’s wafts in as fragrant as a breeze on a summer’s day. It has to be mentioned that this is not a format that is overplayed, although István has quite a voice on this opener, the album as a whole is left to Nell’s performance with him only popping up on a couple of tracks.
Nell has a beautiful voice and one that is instantly captivating, guitars have a Sister’s type sound in the background and she is most certainly the Mercy in front of them. Melody is rich and I am reminded quite a lot of Tiamat by the maudlin flow of things. Textures here are really light and airy and this is good for a sunny morning or early evening listen. I am at times, such as on numbers like ‘Revolution,’ which is nowhere near as antagonistic as one would think, reminded heavily of the sound on The Gathering album ‘Home.’ It really is a bit of a chill out album, there is nothing really in your face on this and it is a mellow album to dream along to or even settle down with a glass of red vino and a good book. ‘Astray’ sticks out a bit with brooding keyboards with a heavy electronic backbone opening the song along with softly intoned male vocals interplaying with Nell’s dulcet tones.
There are no huge surprises amongst the ten songs on offer here really but considering I have about 6 female fronted metal related discs to review at the moment this is the one I have kept finding myself drawn to, a bit like a moth to a flame. I guess that speaks a lot for it and this is a really enjoyable and uncomplicated album.
http://www.theatreoftragedy.com
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