Tristania
Illumination

THE REVIEW

"Illumination", the fifth album by the Norwegian band, opens a new chapter in their discography. The characteristics, which even a not very expert listener can grasp, are numerous; they set it apart significantly from the band's previous works.

Obviously, when comparing it with, for example, "Beyond the Veil" or "Widow's Weeds", we notice the absence of Morten Veland's death growl (who left Tristania around 2000), a factor not to be underestimated, but which has subsequently allowed more space for Stene's wonderful voice. It's indeed her around whom, in my opinion, the whole album revolves: she has almost full control of every song, reaching very high vocal registers (see "Open Ground") and, let's be honest, unlike other singers, she never manages to bore.

Even their genre has changed significantly. In the early works, many rightly talk about a romantic Gothic/Metal that later would also show hints of Power, and now with this last CD (released just a few days ago), the band changes style again, differentiating it even from "Ashes". Now the gothic, Gregorian choirs, and so on... have almost completely disappeared and the guitars stand out more and more. Vibeke sings like an opera singer (in some ways she resembles Turunen of Nightwish).

Let’s move on to the tracks. The best ones in my opinion are the first 6, especially "Open Ground", "Destination Departure", "Sanguine Sky" and "The Ravens". Where the female voice is fabulous, intertwining with the male voice (the latter is now much more relaxed and outside the usual growl registers).

In light of this, Tristania has given yet another great display of their skill, and even though "the beloved Veland" left the group, they managed and still manage to maintain the same levels as in the past, perhaps even better. "Ashes", the previous album, although beautiful, was not understood, whereas "Illumination" opens a ray of light amidst this genre in ruin, the last wheel of Metal.. where 'clone' bands or identical albums aren't rare. Therefore I mainly recommend it to all genre lovers.