Artist: Tristania
Title: “Illumination”
Label: SPV Records
Release Date: 1/25/2007
Genre: Gothic Metal
Rating: 4/5

With “Illumination” it seems that Norway’s Tristania has decided to move deeper into the Gothic side than ever imagined as this release serves fans a quasi-Evanescence feel – but with a lot more depth and dramatics than that outfit seems to provide. There aren’t much of the Dark Growling vocals that were once delivered by Kjetil Ingebrethsen; as the singer left the band in mid 2006 to pursue other interests. Instead, that style is provided by guest vocalist Vorph (from Samael) and used sparingly this time around. For “Illumination”, the band shifted gears a little and as result the whole release is now a brooding and dark piece of music with textures that both chill and warm the blood at the same time. Singer Vibeke Stene provides siren like melody and operatic styles to the sullen and deep words of her male counterpart Osten Bergoy and this pairing seems to work even better than it did before. The opening track of “Destination Departure” just grabs you with the overall groove it has to it while “Mercyside” is perhaps the albums most captivating sing based on the big operatic choir it uses as a chorus. Surely both of these will be among many of the fans favorite tracks.
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