Tristania - Rubicon [2010]

"Year of the rat" is an extremely unimpressive beginning to the album. This album doesn't feel at all like a Tristania album. Perhaps it is the lineup changes. I definitely don't like the new female vocalist. I don't much care for her stock voice, nor do I care for her phrasing and (assumed) writing of the vocal parts. There are very few parts that feel like Tristania to me. On top of which, the songwriting feels like it's by the numbers. The songs aren't catchy. There's very little of the clean guitar parts that used to be all over the place. I just don't like the new style at all, and not only because it's different from the high standard that I'm used to with this band. This album wouldn't stand up alone if it weren't a Tristania album, so I don't see why it should stand up at all.

Rating: 3.5

http://www.tristania.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Tristania - Illumination [2007]

The classical elements of the keys have been mostly replaced with Gothic Rock keys and I must admit, I really like how it sounds. This definitely feels a lot more like "classic" Gothic Metal, but with more catchiness and more of an edge to it. The songs are beautiful and dark all the way through. The production has taken a very large step up and is now much more punchy and clear. Unlike previous albums, the heavy parts with distorted guitars actually have weight to them and really feel powerful. The album is, however, slightly over-compressed. It's equally as good as WoG, but for different reasons.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.tristania.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Tristania - Ashes [2005]

A much less epic start than what I had grown used to from the previous two albums. The songwriting style has progressed a noticeable amount, but it still feels distinctly like Tristania. When I first listened to this album, I may have been overly harsh and negative towards it since it contains much less keys than previous albums and the epic feel is mostly absent. However, the songs are quite beautiful and very well written. The production quality is definitely a step up; everything is much more forward and clear. In the end, the shift in style doesn't really hurt the material, and while there are a couple songs that feel like they drag on, it's still a very good and dark album.

Rating: 8

http://www.tristania.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Tristania - World of Glass [2001]

Beautiful from start to finish. However, the catchiness has fallen off a bit from BtV and some more patience is required for some of the songs. Even so, it's a great album that goes back to the slower and more depressingly beautiful style of WW, but with more "evil" inserted into the mix. Production quality is their best yet.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.tristania.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Tristania - Widow's Weeds [1998]

Wow, I really wasn't in the mood for Tristania when I started listening, but the first 4 tracks have completely changed my mood. So far, this may be some of the best songwriting I've heard from them. Production isn't bad. The guitar distortion is a bit wonky. This album has much less of the epic and energetic feel of the later albums. Rather, it focuses on the more beautiful style of songwriting, and they seem to have perfected it in this album

Rating: 8

http://www.tristania.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Tristania - Tristania [1997]

Starting off with a more renaissance feel. Production is pretty good for their first album. Overall, very good… especially considering that this is their first album. The songwriting isn't as refined as their later stuff, but it's still great, very effective, and beautiful.

Rating: 7.5

http://www.tristania.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Tristania - Beyond the Veil [1999]

Beautiful opening track, but "beautiful" will be used often on this album. Very good production quality. It perfectly suits the musical style. The orchestra and chorus are easy to hear over the guitars and drums. It's not a really heavy production, which is probably better for the style of music. The song-writing is top-notch and very very Gothic. Beautiful use of chorus and clean vox as well as the viola and orchestra. The guitar riffs are well-crafted and fit in nicely with the rest of the instruments. The production could be a little bit better for the drums, though, and I would've liked to hear a slightly heavier guitar sound… but now I'm just nit-picking.

Rating: 9

http://www.tristania.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.