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Rating: "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.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Sanguine Sky (03:50)
Vibeke:
My blood is tainted
I serve you
A setting sun bleeding
Into an ocean of tears for you
Into an ocean of tears for you
�sten:
It's an exodus
From the dark
The night is breathing
The night is exhaling
Falling, falling
Up the staircase
Towards the moon, the stars,
And the Venus-kissed Mars
Maybe ever-worry Mars
Vibeke & �sten:
Blood runs silent
The stains grow darker
And a spite is eating at me
I see the dead awaken
My fate forsaken
And free
�sten
I am talking
On a hidden line
She says she is thieving
She says she is dead
She says there is a downward spiral
From the moon, the stars,
Maybe ever-worry Mars
The ever-worry Mars
Vibeke & �sten
Blood runs silent
The stains grow darker
And a spite's eating at me
I see the dead awaken
My fate forsaken
And free
Vibeke:
(Ah...)
Vibeke & �sten:
Blood runs silent
The stains grow darker
And a spite is eating at me
I see the dead awaken
My fate forsaken
And free
Blood runs silent
The stains grow darker
And a spite is eating at me
I see the dead awaken
My fate forsaken
And free
03 Open Ground (04:40)
Digging in the ground
Digging in the mud
Sweat streams down my face
My spit tastes like blood
Hide me with locks from your hair
I cannot breathe
Bleeding â?¦
Dying â?¦
Digging â?¦
Falling apart
The torch went out
The room went dark
Running in the fog
Crawling through the mud
Tears fall down my face
My spit tastes like blood
Cover me with locks from your hair
Through my mind
My driven mind
We both knew
Love is blind
Insanity is always near
Deep in my bag full of fear
I cannot see
The pain that trigged your screams
I cannot see
From the corner of my eye
I feel them closing in
I know they caught the scent of me
And then they went for meâ?¦
I chose for you to stay with me
05 Destination Departure (04:34)
Vibeke:
Caressing the anger
Nothing will ever be the same again
At you are most beautiful
At you are most beautiful
This is my destination
Left behind in desolation
At you are most beautiful
At you are most beautiful
Leave me
You talk like you know, but you don't
And it shows
She should have out-lived me
I listened before, but I can't any more
So just leave me
I tried so hard
To find something that I
Could believe in
But there's nothing there
So there's nothing to feel
Østen
Who's gonna be here
If you want me to leave?
Who's gonna be here?
Vibeke
Caressing the anger
This is my destination
But you are most beautiful
But you are most beautiful
Leave me
You talk like you know, but you don't
And it shows
She should have out-lived me
I listened before, but I can't any more
So just leave me
I tried so hard
To find something that I
Could believe in
But there's nothing there
And there's no-one who cares
Østen
Who's gonna be here
If you want me to leave?
Who's gonna be here
If you want me to leave?
Who's gonna end it
When you cannot make it stop?
Can you hang on for today?
06 Down (04:32)
My violent mood swings peak
And my hands are as heavy as rocks
I have no time and no space
I am falling behind
Just take me home
My patience has all run out
And I feel like yelling; - it is too much
I have abandoned all charm and all grace
I have fallen behind
There is no god
The night is cursed
Loud and blurred
Still it rains
It rains like hell
Rain on empty shells
My violent mood swings peak
And my hands are as heavy as rocks
I have no time and no space
I have fallen behind
There is no god
Screaming voices
Ring in my ears
I don't want to know their names
07 Fate (04:59)
I've been trying to participate
in masquerades
The throne's been empty for too long
Paradise for those who play along
and the fortunate ones
I've been listening to the voice
at night
And he is right
I am the chosen one
And my shepherd, he has paid my ride
I will go with a smile
I've been begging for the public eye
Now watch me fly
Can you see what I?ve become
So expose me - I shall be released
When the flesh paints the street
I was walking through the valley of
the living dead
Did not count the tears I shed
Always chasing those elusive dreams
A drop of blood in the stream
11 Deadlands (06:39)
I failed to impress you, and you
Feel free to abuse me
All has been in vain
We're through
So please stop pretending
Years I spent were wasted on you
Words have been spoken
My chains have been broken
This street has an end, I have failed
Never will again
My life was invaded by you
This image of straws that break against the wind
We're through
But the world keeps spinning
Endlessly I have no answers for you
Weight off my shoulders
Unleashed
No more hiding...
Leaving deadlands
Release me
On your own
Bitter and old
Dead and gone
Carved in stone
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Other reviews
By lovelorn
"Vibeke Stene’s swan song could not have been more epic and graceful."
"Illumination declares it lives by its own light, demonstrating a renewed compositional verve and an absolute synergy between vocal and musical components."
