Old school Swedish death metal is the order of day from this Swedish four-piece. It's all simple enough stuff, quite reminiscent of a less-tech Tribulation in places. "The serpent's redemption" likes to groove a lot and it makes this album sound something along the lines of old school thrash meets old school death 'n' roll. It's nothing really to write home about, but at the same time it's littered with cool parts from start to finish. Sadly, those cool parts are too short-lived and strewn between endless average sequences that often outstay their welcome. The title track is a prime example; a no mark main riff that's drawn out for way, way, way, way, way, way too long. So: there's nothing new, the riffs are average (at best), everything lasts too long and the good parts are few and far between. It's hard to see how anybody in tune with this particular scene would want this over the plethora of other releases out there. Sorry. - John Norby
Swedish death metal act Tribulation will make their American live debut at the Rites of Darkness III festival in San Antonio, Texas on December 9-11. Other confirmed Scandinavians include Demigod, Interment, Behexen, Sargeist, Demonical, Anhedonist, Ondksapt, Strid and Valkyrja. Facebook appears to be the best place to keep up with future updates: http://www.facebook.com/RITESOFDARKNESS
The upcoming Skitsystem reunion in Göteborg will go down on February 26 at Truckstop Alaska and will feature a ridiculously killer lineup with bands such as Tyrant, Tribulation and Bombus. Full details: http://www.lastfm.se/event/1388102+Truckstop+Februari-fest
The nominees for the 2010 Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative Grammy, have been announced:
Punk/Hardcore: En Svensk Tiger - Versace style () Troublemakers - Made in Sweden () Tysta Mari - Sveriges Casino () The Clichés - Monkey see, monkey do ()
Dance: Minilogue - Samlad årsproduktion Samuel L Session - The man with the case () The Field - Yesterday and Today () Tomas Andersson - Stiff Disco ()
Jazz: Bengt Berger - Beches Brew () Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - The Half Naked Truth 1998-2008 () The Opposite - Intertwined () Plunge With Bobo Stenson - Origo ()
Rhythm: Calle Real - Me Lo Gané () Jaqee - Kokoo Girl () Music is the weapon - Music is the weapon () Syster Sol - Dömd att bli bedömd ()
Rock: Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco () Makeouts - In A Strange Land () Murder by guitar - Murder by guitar () Skriet - Skriet ()
Pop: Anna Järvinen - Man var bland molnen () El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop () JJ - JJ n° 2 () Jonathan Johansson - En hand i himlen ()
Hårdrock/Metal: Abandon - The Dead End () Candlemass - Death Magic Doom () Katatonia - Night Is The New Day () Tribulation - The Horror ()
Singer/songwriter: Ane Brun - Live at Stockholm Concert Hall () David Åhlen - We Sprout In Thy Soil () Jonna Lee - This Is Jonna Lee () Kristofer Åström And The Rainaways - Sinkadus ()
Folk/ballad: Taken By Trees - East of Eden () Miriam Aida - Letras au Brasil () Tore Berger - I huset långt på landet () Esbjörn Hazelius - Blunda och du ska få se ()
Hip-hop: Mohammed Ali - Processen () Organismen - Om Gud vill och vädret tillåter () Promoe - Kråksången () Stor - Nya skolans ledare ()
Best live: Frida Hyvönen () Jenny Wilson () Fever Ray () Florence Valentin ()
Best unsigned: Den Svenska Björnstammen Extended Heads Fulmakten Nora
Those of us old enough to remember the emergence of the classic Swedish death metal sound -- that is, the Tomas Skogsberg/Sunlight Studios sound -- know only too well the nostalgic goosebump feeling that arrives every time we hear said sound chainsaw its way out of a good set of Mordaunt-Shorts. And it's that feeling that arrives in abundance upon listening to "The horror", the searing debut album from Arvika's Tribulation. The music itself is a tech-death/black/thrash amalgam that's as musically precise as they come and that benefits from exceptional song construction throughout. Add a shivering guitar sound that references Sweden's old-school elite with a perfectly-balanced production and you have an album that simply commands attention. With vocals bordering on a black metal rasp layered over a relentless metal bombardment, the sparing use of clean and piano passages offers a welcome deviation from the onslaught and exudes an eerie '70s horror movie feel. While the majority of "The horror" is an all-out riff-frenzy, there are numerous slower moments that, without doubt, is when we see Tribulation at their finest; parts evident in the likes of "Curse of resurrection" and "Seduced by the smell of rotten flesh" that suggest that these guys -– if they're clever -– could find themselves the torchbearers for a resurgence in the style. Hell, they even sport an image that screams Stockholm 1990. "Left hand path" this ain't but, by hell, it's one savage album! - John Norby
I might post one more track before I call it a week, but I really am running low on music that I'm unequivocally enthusiastic about, so make of that what you will. Remember: next week is all negativity. I am an ill-tempered jerk.
Hopefully I don't gush about it too much, but I'm way into the current old-school Swedish death metal revival and Tribulation is one of the finer, younger bands in that style. I purchased a copy of their debut full-length LP "The horror" not too long ago (beautiful gatefold + matte print job, btw) completely blind, having never heard the band and banking completely on the reputation of Blood Harvest. I needed the Graveless and Bastard Priest demo tapes (both of which totally rule), so figured I'd take a chance. Worst case scenario, there's always the lucrative limited vinyl resale market. I'm no flipper, but it's good to know the option exists. Anyhow, these dudes are often compared to Merciless in that they've got quite a bit of thrash influence and loads of speedy blast parts; likewise I also detect a definite resemblance to Dissection. Tribulation's sound is a bit more meaty that they were without being too groove-oriented, but they've also got a blackened side that shines through in their melodies and horror-inspired interludes. I'm not surprised there's plenty of old dudes out there playing quality DM in the old ways, but it's even better that there's young folk out there to help carry the torch further.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Samtidigt Som - Vid min sida
02. TALK 1
03. Tortyr - Ingen anger
04. Tribulation - Beyond the horror
05. The Fine Arts Showcase - Lovesick
06. TALK 2 (Umeå Punk City set)
07. The Bombettes - Oh boy
08. Industri Royal - Location location location
09. Regulations - Different needs
10. Moloken - Followers
11. Inständg - Kött är mord
12. Knugen Faller - Jag vill inte vara med
13. The Rats - Everything is a trap
14. TALK 3
15. Elmo - Blind heart
16. Logh - Forest eyes (RBG version)
17. Shining - Plågoande O'Helga plågoande
18. TALK 4
19. NEI - City of gold
20. Svart - Honey, honey
21. Fare You Well - It's almost over
22. TALK 5
23. Samuraj Cities - 2 close 2 yr hrt
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Miss Li - Dancing the whole way home
02. TALK 1
03. Graveless - The covenants genocide
04. Abramis Brama - Kylan kommer inifran
05. NEI - City of gold
06. TALK 2
07. Love Potion - Nitefever
08. Pistol Disco - Beat of the tune
09. Black Sheep - We're gonna die
10. The End Will Be Kicks - Little pill
11. TALK 3
12. Tribulation - Crypt of Thanatophilia
13. Makabert Fynd - Folkfacist, halvnazist
14. Bruket - Polisen lägger pussel
15. TALK 4
16. The Bear Quartet - I was a weapon
17. Mangrove - Pieces of our yesterday
18. Elmo - Shine down on us
19. TALK 5
20. Aqua - Back to the 80s
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Bombs of Hades
Tribulation
