The Announcement:
After 26 years on the international Metal scene, the members of Tristania have this week taken the heavy decision to call it a day. This means that future plans, including the scheduled Latin America Tour in December, have been cancelled.
Struggling through some truly challenging years, like the rest of the world, we have been eager to finally look ahead with the Latin America Tour being the next big thing for us.
Last week came the news about a serious medical situation in near family withing the band, which will make it impossible to pursure both short and long term plans with the band. This came as a shock to us and we are truly sorry to share this.
Continue reading Norway’s Tristania Announces Their Disbandment (1996-2022) →
Artist: Sirenia
Title: “Nine Destinies and a Downfall”
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 3/20/2007
Genre: Gothic Metal
Rating: 4/5
It is probably no accident that Sirenia; the band that was founded by Morten Veland in 2001, has a very Tristania-like vibe. I am guessing that his origins with the band from their beginnings have a lot to do with it. Yet with Sirenia there seem to be many levels of accessibility that you don’t get right away with Tristania, and I mean nothing against them for I love their latest release very much. “Nine Destinies And A Downfall” has tracks like “Mind’s Eye” that will have you singing along after the first listen and few bands can offer you this luxury especially when it comes to the Gothic Metal genre. The key lies largely in the skills of Veland as a songwriter and also in the bands new singer Monika Pedersen. She was an exceptional find and while some of the bands original fans might be distressed at the loss of the singer they were used to, I strongly feel that Monika will quickly win them over with her beautiful and passionate melodies. The appeal of this Gothic Metal band has increased based on their ability to use the known formulas in the genre of the siren singer along with the darker male presence, lifting choruses on top of foreboding grooves and pounding rhythms. Yes, I know all these kind of bands use that formula but Sirenia also has made sure to load this working mechanic into songs that are catchy and easy to remember without losing an ounce of their impact or dark appeal. “The Other Side” is the next most accessible track with a pumping chorus that gets bigger the moment you raise the volume on the stereo. As I listened to them I felt that those who like Leaves Eyes and Within Temptation might appreciate them the most and perhaps even a few who enjoy Evanescence.
Continue reading “Nine Destinies and a Downfall” by Sirenia →
Where Heavy Music & Pop Culture Collide
