Artist: TRAIL OF TEARS
Album: FREE FALL INTO FEAR LTD. (DIGI)

Year: 2005
Media type: CD

Things change. TRAIL OF TEARS had been known as a Gothic Metal band of the heavier kind that also included female vocalist Catherine Paulsen. But Catherine has since left the band and been replaced permanently by Kjetil Nordhus (Green Carnation). One may at first miss the female vocals of the past, but TRAIL OF TEARS are by no means the lesser for it. Musically, they have become faster and heavier. The vocals are more varied than ever before: from growls, to screams, to clean lines. Female voices are also to be heard as part of the ethereal atmosphere. TRAIL OF TEARS can no longer be categorized, as their style is much too rich and disparate, yet they manage to bring it all together in a highly interesting and perfect end result. Rhythm changes advance the tracks superbly - calm, even melancholic parts linger until the almost doom-like guitars and electronic whispering voices drive them away. In short, this album borders on the avant-garde and presents unique, high calibre Dark Metal, in part ala SAMAEL and ARCTURUS, complimented by ethereal passages and raw riffs. TRAIL OF TEARS return with an excellent and varied album above and beyond their genre's expectations.

Tracklisting:

01. Joyless Trance of Winter
02. Carrier of the Scars of Life
03. Frail Expectations
04. Cold Hand of Retribution
05. Watch You Fall
06. The Architect of My Downfall
07. Drink Away the Demons
08. Point Zero
09. Dry Well of Life
10. The Face of Jealousy

Line-Up:

Ronny - Vocals
Kjetil - Vocals
Runar - Guitars
Terje - Guitars
Frank - Synths
Kjell - Synths
Jonathan - Drums