Tristania – Rubicon
Genre: Gothic Metal
Label: Napalm Records
Tristania have been around for fifteen years or so now with Rubicon being their sixth LP, and understandably they’ve had some hype with this new album. I’ve been excited to hear it after what I’ve heard of it, and now that I have heard it, it didn’t live up to the hype in my eyes.
The slower, more melancholy riffs are not as present, and where they are present they don’t have the same impact, the operatic vocals are not as present, and ultimately they have taken up a sound that is no longer what the leader of the gothic metal genre should have, but a follower. I should make special mention of “The Passing”, the fourth track, however. It sounds more like classic Tristania, with a slower riff, some crunchy fast parts, but a decidedly unfortunate lack of death growls. The violin performed by Pete Johansen (who hasn’t been with Tristania for ten years) is also a great addition to the song.
In the end though, “The Passing” is not enough to keep Rubicon flowing. I’ll stick with Viveynne, Trail of Tears and Sirenia for my gothic metal fix for now.
5 out of 10.
Tristania on MySpace.