Review by Stephen Pedicino
Trail of Tears are a band that you may not have heard about but you’d question why as soon as this cd blasts through your speakers. This gothic metal ensemble has been producing albums since 1998 and has consistently been overlooked since their inception. I’ve always felt they could have been a more accessible force in the metal scene because they’re songs are generally catchier and more powerful than most other gothic metal bands out there. But fortunately, their first North American tour is underway and perhaps now with a fresh lineup ToT can carve more of a name for themselves.
Things begin with perhaps the best ToT song to date, “Deceptive Mirrors.” It creeps in with a kettle drum and unfurls into the best of everything Trail of Tears has established for years. A fantastic chorus, eerily beautiful interlude with female vox, and some seriously badass riffs. Its not hard to become a fan of this band just after hearing this song!!!
If I had to draw a percentage of the vocal responsibility, I’d say about 50% are harsh, 35% are clean male, and the other 15% are female. Ronny Thorsen is easily one of my favorite vocalists and Kjetil Nordhus(well-known for his work in Green Carnation) complements his screams excellently. Like they’re last album, the guitars are a bit more forceful than their earlier works. The keyboards are a bit tuned down, but they still play an essential role to the music and add good atmospheric qualities.
Mostly all the songs are energetic, but you won’t find too much self-duplicity within them. I wasn’t terribly fond of their prior release because they decided to confine themselves to a more heavy and forthright style. They didn’t make the same mistake here, as all the songs have their own memorable element to them. From the haunting “Venom Inside my Veins,” to the emotively melodic “Empty Rooms,” this album possesses enough fury and flavor to please the tongue of any fan of gothic music.
Ironically, you’re not going to see any of the musicians that performed on this opus on tour except Ronny Thorsen. After a lackluster Mexican tour, the band found themselves in a financial deficit which led to departure of most of the members. It’s a pity, but I’m very glad Ronny Thorsen persevered and resuscitated Trail of Tears from where it was. I can only hope that one day this band gets the credit it deserves.