If you like gothic-metal, I recommand the brand new Tristania 'Ashes' (release in Europe on 24 januari, in USA on 1st februari), a real masterpiece.

Site : http://www.tristania.com

Forum : http://crusheddreams.net/

Tristania is a band of Norway. His two first albums were mainly the work of a brilliant composer, Veland. The 2d album, Beyond the Veil, remains the summit of the Veland period (that continues in Sirenia) and I was very amazed by World Of Glass, the 3rd album : a real challenge without Veland, but that has proven the real power of the band, with help of the electronics.

Now, with Ashes, Tristania opens definitely a new area, more directly rock, with ingenious constructions and great variety of ambiences. Somewhere between the old Theatre of Tragedy and Moonspell, with the contrast of his three main vocalists, and an ingenious mix of gothic and metal, Tristania is now on the royal path, free (allusion to the song 'Libre' !) from the classical environment of the first period, although some classical accents are still present, but more discretly (like on the bonus track of the digipack version).

I must repeat it : Ashes is a masterpiece !

Sounds like something I really must hear! I liked Widow's Weeds and I loved Beyond the Veil, but World of Glass was somewhat disappointing. I'm very curious what this new cd will be like!

Beyond the Veil and Widow's Weeds for sure, for me... Ashes, got it a few months now, and couldn't grow in it... They really miss the creative mastermind called Morten Veland who does his stuff for Sirenia now... World of glass was already a step down... Try Sirenia - At sixes and sevens if you like Veland's creations...

Both bands are interesting, but I like the extreme diversity of Ashes that is visibly the result of a team work.

Sirenia is indeed a solitary work, very brilliant, very complex, with more full classic arrangements, but all the work goes always in the same direction.

Tristania has now chosen a more rocky way, with different atmospheres that are like a kaleidoscope.

Actually, it's difficult to compare both bands, they are both complex, but it's not the same complexity. To take a free comparison in the progressive world, it's like a comparison between Yes and the old Genesis (before Abacab). Although Yes is my preferred progressive band, I also like the Genesis approach.

Btw, speaking of progressive rock here is not innocent as classical influences of Veland are evident and as the last Tristania includes also Dream Theater influences (just listen to the 3rd song, The Wretched, it's my favorite, the intro is powerful like a Dream Theater intro ...)

at 1:35 that song gets utter ugly for a while, i think...

This album is not warm like its prequels. Vibeke's voice is underpresent and when present it's not how i remember her...

The first impression of this album is quite numb, so i'm happy to stick with the older material.

I agree that the first impression is .... surprising as Vibeke is no more always present and as the voices are used differently, but, strangely, I like this diversity, including some more radical / extreme passages

Of course, after World Of Glass, where Vibeke was the leading focus on the songs and where an intense use of the electronics was the emergency answer to the Veland departure, it's very surprising

Actually, Tristania is now showing that it's not only Vibeke and the keyboards that make his identity, drums and guitar have this time more place. In another words : more rocky, less classical, and I can understand that you don't recognize the band of the Veland period

Sounds like something that has happened to many bands already: the first couple of albums were great, but then suddenly they decide to change course, which makes that it't not 'them' anymore. I really regret this has happened to Anathema, for example, but I was also unpleasantly surprised by the latest album of After Forever...

Nevertheless I do want to hear the latest Tristania and as I have never heard any song by Sirenia, it might be worth trying that as well

Yes, try Sirenia if you like old Tristania. The album 'at sixes and sevens' blows all Tristania albums away