Tristania
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Tristania is a goth metal band from Norway, formed in the end of 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson.
Music
Tristania's music can be classified "scandinavian goth metal". Tristania's music can be described as black metal combined with opera, gregorian chants and medieval gothic music.
Tristania puts a lot of focus around operatic female vocals, haunting choruses and classical instruments such as pipe organ, flutes and violins. Those gothic elements enrich their fast-paced heavy black metal riffing and giving it a new depth.
On the side of metal Tristania uses heavy black metal riffs with dominant eerie keyboard and powerful drums. The leading voice on most of its song is the menacing death vocals of Morten Veland.
Their combination of death vocals with gentle female opera and majestic gothic choruses have reached a degree of almost perfection in their album Beyond the Veil which is considered by many as a masterpiece in the goth metal genre.
Tristania are using 3 types of vocals:
- Operatic female vocals - provided by Vibeke Stene.
- Death Vocals (grunts, growls and screams) - were provided by Morten Veland and now provided by Hidle and Ingebrethsen.
- Clean vocals (hollow bariton) - provided by Bergøy.
Biography
Tristania was formed in the end of 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Later Anders H. Hidle and Vibeke Stene joined the band. In May 1997 their first EP, titled Tristania, was released. The same year Tristania released its first full length album, Widows's Weeds. A year later, they recorded their second full length album titled Beyond the Veil, which is considered by many fans to be not only the best Tristania project but also the best album to represent the band. The music is very atmospheric and full of harmony. Morten Veland, who was by then almost like a leader to the group, as he composed most of their works, wrote lyrics, played guitar and sang growling vocals, left the band after the release of Beyond the Veil.
After Beyond The Veil the band released the Angina single, and in 2001 their new album, World of Glass was released. This album was a little different in style and the departure of Veland was noticed, as the sound of this album was a combination of typical "tristanian" sound, that included choirs, violins, pianos and more modern, industrial influences. The growling vocals on this album were sung by Ronny Thorsen, member of Trail of Tears, and the clean vocals were sung by Jan Kenneth Barkverd and Østen Bergøy. Bergøy then joined the band as a permanent member, so as Kjetil Ingebrethsen, who is in charge for singing growling vocals.
Tristania is still carrying its path: creating art; music that many fans believe will be considered as masterpieces, and the new album, titled Ashes is to be released in January 2005.
Discography
- Tristania (EP) (1997)
- Widow's Weeds (1998)
- Beyond the Veil (1999)
- World of Glass (2001)
- Ashes (2005)
(Napalm Record)
Band members
- Vibeke Stene - female vocals
- Kjetil Ingebrethsen - death vocals
- Østen Bergøy - clean vocals
- Anders Høvyvik Hidle - guitars
- Rune Østerhus - bass
- Einar Moen - keyboards/programming
- Kenneth Olsson - drums
Former members:
Similar bands
- Theatre of Tragedy
- The Sins of Thy Beloved
- Sirenia
- Therion
- After Forever
- Trail of Tears
External links
- Official Website (http://www.tristania.com/)