THEATRE OF TRAGEDY - review added 17th September 2009
Album Review: Forever Is The World (2009)
For fans of: Symphonic Gothic... and top-drawer female vocals
Norwegian band Theatre Of Tragedy were formed at the start of the 1990's in the city of Stavanger. Over the years they have changed style a number of times; going from heavy gothic, through industrial and electropop, and now full circle back to a mildly symphonic, gothic sound with hints of doom.
The main structure of the music is the contrast between Nell Sigland's stunningly beautiful, near operatic vocals and Raymond István Rohonyi's deeper sound. Raymond varies between throaty grunts and clean bassy chanting. His vocalizing works perfectly with his female counterpart although, I suspect, if he was to perform by himself he wouldn't sound anywhere near as good.
The band is completed by Frank Claussen and Vegard K. Thorsen on guitar, Lorentz Aspen on keyboards and Hein Frode Hansen on drums.
Forever Is The World is Theatre Of Tragedy's 7th studio album although, if you count EP's and live releases, they are now into double figures. It's a good, if intense listen. This is music you respect and sink into rather than merely enjoy. You aren't going to sing along or dance to stuff like this, but the performances are still undoubtedly worthy of praise.
The start of the first track, 'Hide And Seek' is as moody as a sulking teenager until Nell cuts in and raises the bar several notches. It's an epic sound that'll transport you to a land far from Earth. The aura surrounding the music is almost surreal and the result is highly impressive. The album then continues in a similar vein for its entirety. There are numerous stand out moments - harmonies and compositions that will blow your mind - but the songs themselves blur as a whole.
In the end that's what this album comes down to. As a line-up of individual songs it's distinctly average. As a whole Forever Is The World is breathtaking. If you like an album with instant hooks and monster choruses this won't be for you. If you like an album that will sweep you off your feet and indulge you like a day at a heavy metal spa, Theatre Of Tragedy have produced one of the best examples this year.
Check out... Nell's voice. Very nice indeed :)
Track List:
01. Hide And Seek
02. A Nine Days Wonder
03. Revolution
04. Transition
05. Hollow
06. Astray
07. Frozen
08. Illusions
09. Deadland
10. Forever Is The World
Label: AFM Records
Artist's website(s): Theatre Of Tragedy , MySpace
