Illumination

Tristania | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 30, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Steamhammer / SPV
• ASIN: B000LXST0O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,654 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Tristania has long been one of the world's leading gothic metal bands and its latest outing, Illumination, demonstrates that the Norwegian outfit needn't worry about losing its footing in that arena any time soon. While not the overwhelming triumph that previous efforts (1999's Beyond the Veil, 2005's Ashes) were, Illumination marries the traditional dark, heavy riffs and dark, operatic vocals of the genre to stunning effect on tracks such as "The Ravens," "Mercyside," and "Sanguine Sky," and shines its light on the pure beauty of Vibeke Stene's world-class voice during "Destination Departure" and the commercially ambitious "Down." While Tristania lacks the commercial appeal that others of its ilk--Madder Mortem, Lacuna Coil--have and its passion for the atmospheric sometimes becomes weightier than necessary, Illumination will take its rightful place in the band's catalogue as a fine and at times brilliant work. ––Jedd Beaudoin

Product Description

Since 1996, Norway's Tristania have been brewing up some of the finest Gothic Death Rock on the scene today. In 1997, just a year after the band's formation, Tristania recorded their first demo with sultry vocalist Vibeke Stene. Since then Tristania have gone on to release four successful albums, each cleverly building on the one before. Last year's SPV debut, Ashes, was met with critical acclaim the world over. On Illumination, their fifth and most majestic recording, Tristania have once again worked with famed producer Waldemar Sorychta (Lacuna Coil, The Gathering, Tiamat, Samael etc.) to do what they do best: light the way into a world of music where darkness and beauty meet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Departing Destined, February 19, 2007

By 

doomsdayer520 (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Illumination (Audio CD)

Like any serious band, Tristania are still trying to advance their sound. Unfortunately, evidence continues to mount that Tristania's glory days are behind them. This album offers more variety and accessibility than the last album, the uneven Ashes, though that album was more intriguing and rocked harder. Here, Tristania have moved away from dark metal and thankfully have mostly dropped the extreme vocals that have always appeared extraneous within their sound. Tristania are now an increasingly mainstream purveyor of goth dirges, which indicates a partially successful advancement in songwriting and playing. Bassist Rune Osterhus and drummer Kenneth Olsson are especially strong on this album, even though the band is mellowing out overall. The songs here that best illustrate development in songwriting, and best exhibit the band's musical talents, include "Open Ground," "The Ravens," and a couple of others. But otherwise, this album runs out of steam pretty quickly, as it is made up primarily of turgid semi-ballads that hold little musical interest. There are also some unpleasant surprises like "Sacrilege," which sounds like overblown 80s arena metal, and "Ab Initio" (a bonus track on my edition of the disc), which is a failed experiment in psychedelic grunge.

This album also brings to a head the unlikely curse of Tristania - two stupendous singers. The operatic emotion of the beautiful Vibeke Stene and the haunting rich baritone of Osten Bergoy are at the forefront of this album where they belong, and both singers truly shine brightly throughout. However, giving both of these considerable talents room to roam means that neither is fully utilized, and you can only fantasize about how majestic an album could be when carried by either of them individually. Also, despite harmonizing occasionally, Vibeke and Osten are not effectively utilized as a team, and give the impression of singing their parts in isolation. This album sums up the fate of Tristania - two outstanding singers holding each other back from greatness, and a musical backdrop that is becoming less distinct and more directionless with each album. It's time for Vibeke and Osten to both go solo. [~doomsdayer520~]

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so good., February 9, 2007

By 

Macgregor (Off to the left or normalcy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illumination (Audio CD)

SO....yeah...After Ashes I said I'd never buy another Tristania album, but; after reading the pre-reviews of "Illumination" being different, I thought "hey, why not?" (If you liked "Ashes" no need to read further).

WOW....if you liked Morten Veland era Tristania do not buy this Album, if you read this review never having listened to Tristania, and you like goth metal with choirs, orhcestras, operatic voices, and superb beauty and beast vocals, etc I'd go with Morten's new band Sirenia, or the Tristania albums, "Widow's Weed," and "Beyond the Veil" and coincidentally, Sirenia has a new one coming out in less than a month in the states. Having heard some if it on myspace I'd say save your money for that one, especially if your a person with limited music budget. It may not be fair to compare the band from the time of Morten to the present line-up, but the difference is massive, and in this listeners opinion, not for the better. On "Illumination," Tristania sounds like a younger Lacuna Coil, which isn't bad....for Lacuna Coil.

There is very little use of Vibke's airy angelic operatic voice, and the choirs and orchestra are almost non existent. As stated before, with one run-through of the album, it is very easy to compare them to a band sounding like Lacuna Coil, which is a huge jump (in my personal opinion) in the wrong direction from Widow's Weed and Veil. If your looking for supreme goth/black metal look for Sirenia. Nothing beats the lion roar of Morten.

If you liked "Ashes" then this album is up your alley, not much of a jump, although Vibke's vocal role is increased and the black metal voice is significantly less. The clean male voice and Vibke's voice harmonize...a lot... Leading them to sound a lot like Lacuna Coil

If you liked Ashes, buy this, if your more of a fan of Morten Veland era Tristania, you will be disappointed...go with Sirenia's "Nine Destinies and a Downfall."

5.0 out of 5 stars One-of-a-kind, December 26, 2011

By 

Edi Martinovic "Musician" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Illumination (MP3 Download)

This album is the first I had heard from Tristania. I listened to the previews, and the second I heard the sound of the intro to Lotus I instantly bought the album. It's full of interesting sounds and some really great melodies and moods. It sounds like the singer from The Sisters of Mercy joined a rock band (sometimes swaying toward metal) where sometimes he'll growl more and sing high in addition to low, accompanied by a woman with a very clear, recognizable light voice, and sometimes also accompanied by choirs or gently orchestral elements. Yeah, that's odd, and fantastic. The song Sanguine Sky almost sounds like it could have been written by The Sisters of Mercy too.

I know that existing fans of Tristania are slowly starting to rip their hair out hearing the changes happening in this era of the band. After hearing this album, I went back into Tristania's past to hear other albums by this talented group--however, none of the other albums really sound anything like this, which is why I'm pretty sure fans are disappointed. Imagine my disappointment to see that their past albums were completely different, and this was the last album containing the leading female vocalist. This album ends up being one single unique collection of songs that sound like nothing that happened before it and nothing that will happen again after it. Even Sirenia sounds completely different, without any of the soul of this album.

All in all, you'll be able to tell just from the clips if this is an album you'd like. If it grips you the way it gripped me, buy it without even giving it a moment's thought. It's well worth it. If not, maybe it's not for you. If you think previous Tristania albums are absolute perfection, this will be a step in the wrong direction for you and seeing the albums that have come after this one...it might be time to move on. In my opinion, though, this album is fantastic, and if any band out there can sound like this one album after the other, sign me up!