Customer Reviews

Illumination

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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~]

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."

This was my first taste of Tristania. It is a must buy album. From the anticipation of the first note I felt the surge thrust me into their currents. I was hooked, it dragged me in. I was enveloped, transformed, elevated to a higher musical plane where only this new artistic creation could fill the hole in my emotional psyche. They definately know how to put the music together. When comparing them to other music I thought you could add 2 parts "Tool", 1 part Queen, 1 part Evanesence, and 1 part Korn. The female singer is outstanding. This is Beauty & the Beast music, and the beast is minimal & done with good effect. Metal Goth at its finest. Check them out.

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!

This is the cd that put tristania in my top 10 list Vibeke Stenes vocals are simply amazing backed by some awsome guitar riffs makes for an awsome musical experience for fans of gothic and sympohnic rock!!!!!!!!

Just now got this album and really loved Ashes personally and was quite different. This album is a little softer then that album overall but has some of the best songs period and continue to advance their sound. Down is probably my favorite song and reminds me of fellow county band and older Trail of Tears song. Fate and Mercyside also greatness. Mercyside is a dizzy, grim and chaotic song to me.

The problem with this album is trying to listen to it on a good stereo system and especially a car audio system and listening to it loud. They've had some good pounding bass in albums like Widow's Weeds and some in the previous album Ashes but the bass on this album is almost too much and pounding. That is only a minor gripe. Really the album sounds like a production problem putting the eq master gain too high and at times sounds distorted throughout the entire album so had to give it 4 stars out of 5.

Other then that unfortunate part which puzzles me this is a great album...one of the best they have made.

I must say that when I got this CD I expected much less than Ashes' already immaculate formula. They have continued album after album to further refine their sound, and this album just might be the pinnacle. My personal highlights here are The Ravens and Down. Vibeke is simply haunting on these tracks, not that any of the others leave anything to be desired. It's just that the aforementioned tracks are simply monumental - epics if you will. None of the rest of the band is slacking here, it's just that, especially on The Ravens and Down, Vibeke's above flawless performance easily overshadows anything that could possibly improve their sound. I haven't been so moved by an album in quite some time (Neurosis - The Eye of Every Storm perhaps?). I couldn't rate this album anything less than 6/5 stars. I just hope that the new female vocalist can continue Tristania's legacy... Do yourself a favor and buy this!

Tristania is a band that was told to me by an online friend. He, knowing my taste in Metal/Gothic music, made mention of Tristania as "something I might like"....

Well, I can tell you my first taste of Tristania, which happens to be this limited edition CD is a good place for me to start; it's sort of a Type O Negative meets Evanescence, I think. I know, doesn't sound convincing, but this isn't Tristania's first dance. Their expertise blending of choppy guitars, heavy drums and synths makes listening to them an enjoyable experience which I'll enjoy again and again over the years... much to my neighbor's dismay. If you like Type O Negative or music similar to Type O's, I think this is a release you will enjoy.

I have all Tristania CDs though they were not in my top favorates. The Album Ashes started pushing them into my favorates and Illumination has
completed this process. I first downloaded the whole album for free in a good quality MP3, but then decided that I want to have it in Audio and baught CD .

In my opinion, I think this current album Illumination sounds great both musically and lyrics. Much of the work sounds very different from their previous albums. One thing I really noticed a lot was there weren't anyone singing with extreme vocals, which in a way is good since sometimes you need to hear more the main vocalists than there guest vocalist. Favorite song out of the album Down and Ab Initio, Vebeke's vocals are really beautiful in those songs.