Trail of Tears – “Free Fall Into Fear”
So, you think you know what this band is like? Read the name and that they are on Napalm Records and you think: goth or folky. Wrong! “Free Fall into Fear” will sucker punch you! You wouldn’t expect tight, blazing, blasting speed, but that’s what you get. It’s not the only thing: the music is often hovering around the fast, faster mid-tempo with lots of double bass, courtesy of one Jonathan Pérez. The polished death/black elements are predominant with substantial, constant clean vocals by Kjetil Nordhus, also a member of Green Carnation. Ronny Thorsten takes care of the growling business. Personally, I’m glad to see the band go in this direction of dark, heavy, faster-paced (somewhat symphonic) black/death with some melodic moments and clean singing. The rawer approach reminded me of why I liked the debut, “Disclosure in Red” back in 1999 or so. I’m glad to see that the blast is not forgotten (Excellent way of putting it!! – Mike). “Carrier of the Scars of Life” and “Cold Hand of Retribution,” for example, sound great with the properly placed blasting.