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Theatre Of Tragedy - Storm review



Reviewer:
7.0

163 users:
7.29
Band: Theatre Of Tragedy
Album: Storm
Release date: March 2006


01. Storm
02. Silence
03. Ashes And Dreams
04. Voices
05. Fade
06. Begin & End
07. Highlights [bonus]
08. Senseless
09. Exile
10. Disintegration
11. Debris
12. Beauty In Deconstruction [bonus]

And here we are, with the big awaited come back of the precursors of Gothic Metal from Norway, Theatre Of Tragedy? After two really deceiving and "special" electronics albums plus the departure of the charismatic Liv Kristine Espenaes a lot of people believed that the band was just dead. This is definitely not the case and TOT is back to prove (even if everything isn't perfect) that they still can do good music. The ones who were disabused by the two precedents albums should try this new one? They will probably have some good surprises.

No, if you're expecting that I will say that TOT is back to its roots, that the band is doing again some beautiful Gothic Metal, you're simply wrong my friends. They're not back to the amazing period of Aegis but let's be honest two minutes, when you just remember the last releases, it's extremely better now. The principal problem of the album comes from the differences between the songs. Actually, there are two styles of music on this release; the one of "Storm" or "Begin&End" extremely catchy but extremely popy a bit electronic and lifeless on a side, and the one of the really good and gothic "Fade" or "Senseless", with their superb dark ambiances and lines of piano, on the other side. It's a bit unequal at the end and a bit deplorable but ok ok, there are some good things on this album and the "good" songs are promising?

I cannot write a review about "Storm" without talking about the two vocalists. Nell, is an extremely good singer who knows how to sing with a voice full of real emotions. She was, in my opinion the best choice for the band. But well on the other hand, Raymond is extremely deceiving, when he was a good singer on Aegis (like on the two precedent albums), he was extremely bad on "Musique" and "Assembly" and it's unfortunately not better now. His nasal vocals aren't good and are just boring, too bad that he didn't know how to change his vocals? But well at least the production is perfect and Nell does a really good balance?

"Storm" isn't a bad album, especially if you compare it to "Musique" and "Assembly". Nell is an amazing singer, I really believe that she is among the best, and the band just did the good choice in my opinion, but even if we have some real radio hits, it's also a bit uncoloured for my ears. In any way this album is a deception, I will even say that the band is back on the good road, but I was expecting something in the vein of Aegis, and it's not the case. But at least, some songs like "Fade" give me some great hopes. "Storm" will probably reconcile TOT with some of their fans but will it convince them? That's the question...

Written by Jeff | 14.04.2006




Comments

Comments: 9   Visited by: 102 users
04.10.2006 - 13:01
Rating: 8
iaberis
Advice Troll
Wow! That's a very good album! I don't know how T.O.T. sounded before, but this album rocks! I can't stop listening to it over and over again! And the new vocalist has a great voice! Not to mention how pretty she is!
I'm going now to e-bay to buy this album!
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Bitch! Please
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03.11.2006 - 22:31
Rathma
Account deleted
It's a good album. People don't like it because it's too catchy.
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23.11.2006 - 17:53
Rating: 8
iaberis
Advice Troll
Catchy kse-catchy, I like it!
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Bitch! Please
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14.09.2007 - 18:59
Alex13
Account deleted
Iaveris Jr hahaha
Only in one country ppl will understand that comment. Anyway
Just gave this one a listan. Wont try 2nd time. Its not the same band anymore.
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27.12.2007 - 15:39
Rating: 6
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Mmmm, 7 is a good rating. It's not THAT good, but it works for me anymay and like you said... I thought that this album could be like Aegis. I was wrong.
Very good review. :p
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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14.05.2009 - 06:59
Rating: 6
Morphis

I think Liv is a mutch better singer than Nell, anyway the band was lost their magic long time ago and for the current electronic industrial crap they are making, Nell is probably better.
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17.06.2009 - 18:32
HyperDrifter

I tried listening to this album once but after listening to the early material, this is just horrible. Maybe better than what they have done with the last few albums but it's still very bad to me :/
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14.09.2011 - 03:09
FELIX42

OK...this album is not better than they first works,,....but...i think its a very good muisc too...........love it.
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16.03.2014 - 12:03
Rating: 5
Kuroboshi

Catchy? Mind-numbingly boring is a more appropriate term I'd say...
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