Tristania is one of the outstanding names in the gothmetal scene. They were one of the first gothmetal bands who used screams and normal vocals in their songs. For many bands in the '90 they were an inspiration. After some years of silence they are back with a strong album. Enough reason to look back and learn more about this band.
Biography
© official website of Tristania
Tristania was founded in 1996, by Einar Moen (synth & programming), Kenneth Olsson (drums) and former singer/guitarist Morten Veland. Moen and Veland decided to leave the band Uzi Suicide, which they were a part of. They managed to get Olsson to join them in their new band, Tristania. Shortly after, Rune Østerhus (bass) and Anders H. Hidle (guitar) joined the band. In May 1997 the band entered the studio for the first time and recorded their demo in Klepp Lydstudio. In the meantime, Vibeke Stene had been recruited. She was supposed to contribute on the demo as a session musician, but the rest of the band were convinced on that her voice matched the band perfectly, and she became the 6th member. During the summer of 97 the demo was distributed to different labels, and Napalm Records came up with the best offer. Tristanias first release on Napalm was the MCD named Tristania, which was the demo, but with a new mix and artwork.
Inspired by good reviews for the MCD all over Europe, the band was eager to record the debut album. After some months, Moen and Veland had the songs ready. Before the end of 97, their first full-length album Widow's Weeds was recorded and released in the beginning of 1998. Widow's Weeds is a symphonic metal album with elements from different genres, such as gothic rock, death metal, classical music and black metal. Essential for the album were 2 session musicians, which both have been important on the bands later albums. Østen Bergøy (Morendoes), who today is a regular member of the band, contributed with clean male vocals on the song Angellore. Violins were plaid by Pete Johansen (The Scarr), who also has been contributing on the later albums of Tristania. After doing their first live shows outside of Norway as a support act for Lacrimosa in Belgium and on the Mind Over Matter Festival in Austria during the summer of 98, Tristania went on their first European tour in the autumn same year, together with Solefald and Haggard.
In 1999, the 2nd full-length album, Beyond The Veil, was released. The songs on the album are built around the same elements as the previous one, but all in all the album is a bit more extreme, compared to Widow's Weeds. Moen/Veland were still writing most of the music, but Moen and Hidle also composed a couple of the tracks together this time. Østen Bergøy and Pete Johansen were once again contributing on a Tristania album, in addition to yet another singer; Jan Kenneth Barkved (Elusive). The band followed up the album with their first headlining tour, together with The Sins Of Thy Beloved, Trail of Tears and Antichrisis as support acts. 1999 was also the year for Tristania to appear at the Wacken Festival, and joining Tiamat on the Skeleton Skeletron Tour together with Anathema.
In 2000, Tristania continued the extensive touring, and went on a new European headliner tour, in addition to several of the European summer festivals. 2000 was also the year that the band got their first opportunities to tour outside of Europe, with festival shows in Mexico in August and the US in November.
In the end of 2000, Veland and the rest of the band decided to go on separate ways, due to musical and social differences. The band was eager to go on with the composing, and Moen and Hidle continued to work on their new song material for the 3rd album, World of Glass. The album was recorded in Sound Suite Studio, France during the spring of 2001. Since the replacement for Veland wasn't ready yet, Ronny Thorsen (Trail of Tears) contributed on the extreme vocals, while Bergøy and Barkved contributed with clean vocals. Pete Johansen did the violins for his 3rd time on a Tristania release.
After returning to Norway, Kjetil Ingebrethsen (Blindfolded) joined the band as a replacement for Veland. At the same time it was a natural thing that also Østen Bergøy became a regular member of the band, after participating at all the 3 full-length albums. He had become more and more important as a singer, and on World of Glass also as a lyricist. World of Glass was released in September 2001, and the album represents the natural next step for the band, after Widow's Weeds and Beyond The Veil, and the band managed both to keep the "tristanian" sound and the basic elements in the music, as well as to have development and natural progress. The musical diversity that always has been important for the band became even clearer with World of Glass. This album also included the first ever cover-version recorded by Tristania, called The Modern End, originally recorded by the legendary Norwegian band Seigmen.
Just days after the album was released, the band started the World of Glass Tour in Europe, supported by Rotting Christ, Vintersorg and country-mates Madder Mortem. The touring continued in 2002, with more European gigs as well as shows in Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Columbuia. Tristania is at the moment having a break from touring, focusing solely on the next album, which is expected to be recorded late 2003.
Line-up
Vibeke Stene - Female Vocals
Østen Bergøy - Vocals
Einar Moen - Synth & Programming
Anders H. Hidle - Guitars
Rune Østerhus - Bass
Kenneth Olsson – Drums
Former members
Kjetil Ingebrethsen - Extreme Vocals
Photos
Copyright: Ralf Strathmann
© official website of Tristania
Tristania was founded in 1996, by Einar Moen (synth & programming), Kenneth Olsson (drums) and former singer/guitarist Morten Veland. Moen and Veland decided to leave the band Uzi Suicide, which they were a part of. They managed to get Olsson to join them in their new band, Tristania. Shortly after, Rune Østerhus (bass) and Anders H. Hidle (guitar) joined the band. In May 1997 the band entered the studio for the first time and recorded their demo in Klepp Lydstudio. In the meantime, Vibeke Stene had been recruited. She was supposed to contribute on the demo as a session musician, but the rest of the band were convinced on that her voice matched the band perfectly, and she became the 6th member. During the summer of 97 the demo was distributed to different labels, and Napalm Records came up with the best offer. Tristanias first release on Napalm was the MCD named Tristania, which was the demo, but with a new mix and artwork.
Inspired by good reviews for the MCD all over Europe, the band was eager to record the debut album. After some months, Moen and Veland had the songs ready. Before the end of 97, their first full-length album Widow's Weeds was recorded and released in the beginning of 1998. Widow's Weeds is a symphonic metal album with elements from different genres, such as gothic rock, death metal, classical music and black metal. Essential for the album were 2 session musicians, which both have been important on the bands later albums. Østen Bergøy (Morendoes), who today is a regular member of the band, contributed with clean male vocals on the song Angellore. Violins were plaid by Pete Johansen (The Scarr), who also has been contributing on the later albums of Tristania. After doing their first live shows outside of Norway as a support act for Lacrimosa in Belgium and on the Mind Over Matter Festival in Austria during the summer of 98, Tristania went on their first European tour in the autumn same year, together with Solefald and Haggard.
In 1999, the 2nd full-length album, Beyond The Veil, was released. The songs on the album are built around the same elements as the previous one, but all in all the album is a bit more extreme, compared to Widow's Weeds. Moen/Veland were still writing most of the music, but Moen and Hidle also composed a couple of the tracks together this time. Østen Bergøy and Pete Johansen were once again contributing on a Tristania album, in addition to yet another singer; Jan Kenneth Barkved (Elusive). The band followed up the album with their first headlining tour, together with The Sins Of Thy Beloved, Trail of Tears and Antichrisis as support acts. 1999 was also the year for Tristania to appear at the Wacken Festival, and joining Tiamat on the Skeleton Skeletron Tour together with Anathema.
In 2000, Tristania continued the extensive touring, and went on a new European headliner tour, in addition to several of the European summer festivals. 2000 was also the year that the band got their first opportunities to tour outside of Europe, with festival shows in Mexico in August and the US in November.
In the end of 2000, Veland and the rest of the band decided to go on separate ways, due to musical and social differences. The band was eager to go on with the composing, and Moen and Hidle continued to work on their new song material for the 3rd album, World of Glass. The album was recorded in Sound Suite Studio, France during the spring of 2001. Since the replacement for Veland wasn't ready yet, Ronny Thorsen (Trail of Tears) contributed on the extreme vocals, while Bergøy and Barkved contributed with clean vocals. Pete Johansen did the violins for his 3rd time on a Tristania release.
After returning to Norway, Kjetil Ingebrethsen (Blindfolded) joined the band as a replacement for Veland. At the same time it was a natural thing that also Østen Bergøy became a regular member of the band, after participating at all the 3 full-length albums. He had become more and more important as a singer, and on World of Glass also as a lyricist. World of Glass was released in September 2001, and the album represents the natural next step for the band, after Widow's Weeds and Beyond The Veil, and the band managed both to keep the "tristanian" sound and the basic elements in the music, as well as to have development and natural progress. The musical diversity that always has been important for the band became even clearer with World of Glass. This album also included the first ever cover-version recorded by Tristania, called The Modern End, originally recorded by the legendary Norwegian band Seigmen.
Just days after the album was released, the band started the World of Glass Tour in Europe, supported by Rotting Christ, Vintersorg and country-mates Madder Mortem. The touring continued in 2002, with more European gigs as well as shows in Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Columbuia. Tristania is at the moment having a break from touring, focusing solely on the next album, which is expected to be recorded late 2003.
Line-up
Vibeke Stene - Female Vocals
Østen Bergøy - Vocals
Einar Moen - Synth & Programming
Anders H. Hidle - Guitars
Rune Østerhus - Bass
Kenneth Olsson – Drums
Former members
Kjetil Ingebrethsen - Extreme Vocals
Photos
Copyright: Ralf Strathmann
Discography
DEMO - Released 1997
The first album Tristania produced. The sound quality is a tad below, as this is a self-financed production. It recieved real good reviews despite this. The CD was only printed in 500 copies, so it's almost impossible to get a hold of.
Tristania - Released 1997When Tristania, on the basis of its demo, signed a contract with Napalm Records, the record company wanted to re-release the band's demo. This remake has exactly the same contents, but a much higher sound quality and a new cover. This CD should be much easier to get hold of in your local record-shop. The CD contains four tracks: 'Sirene', 'Midwintertears', 'Pale Enchantress' and 'Cease to Exist', two of which are also released on the later, full-length album 'Widow's Weeds'.
Widow’s Weeds - Released 1998
Tristania's first full length album. It contains two tracks from the demo, which has been vastly improved, but also seven new ones. It has, since even before it was released, recieved great reviews in the most respected magazines, mentioning 9 out of 10 possible in Rock Hard Magazine.
Angina - Released 1999
An indication of things to come, this single contains a short version of 'Angina' and a radio-edit of 'Opus Relinque', both found on Tristania's album "Beyond the Veil" as well as 'Saturnine', not found on any other release. Although made more or less obsolete by the release of 'Beyond the Veil', it is still a must-have for any true Tristania fan.
Beyond the Veil - Released 1999Although 'Widow's Weeds' was a work of art, 'Beyond the Veil' takes it even further. It's deeper, it's better, it's heaven (enclosed in darkness). Some of you may disagree, for Tristania has changed. It's as if they have matured. While enjoying the growth, some may still find themselves loving the child. 'Beyond the Veil' enjoys the same great reviews as 'Widow's Weeds' did; Rock Hard gives another 9 out of 10, saying; "... this genre can hardly produce a better [record], for TRISTANIA have refined their style and nearly reached perfection." The album contains ten tracks; 'Beyond the Veil', 'Aphelion', 'A Sequel of Decay', 'Opus Relinque', 'Lethean River', '...of Ruins and a Red Nightfall', 'Simbelmynë', 'Angina', 'Heretique' and 'Dementia'.
World of Glass - Released 2001This release shows a more mature Tristania. It's diversity and perfection shines through in everyone of the ten tracks on this enchanting release. The gothic feel; the sorrow and rage, mixed perfectly with romance and dreamlike tunes and voices. Be sure to get the limited Edition which features an extra track, 'The Modern End', which is a lovely cover of a song by Norwegian band Seigmen.
This is the first release without former lead vocalist and guitarist Morten Veland, but it does in no way suffer from this. The extreme male vocals are performed by Ronny Thorsen from Trail of Tears while Østen Bergoy and Jan Kenneth Barkved perform the clean male vocals. Female vocals are as ever by the lovely Vibeke Stene. The album contains nine tracks + one extra track on the limited edition release; 'The Shining Path', 'Wormwood', 'Tender Trip on Earth', 'Lost', 'Deadlocked', 'Selling Out', 'Hatred Grows', 'World of Glass', 'Crushed Dreams' + 'The Modern End'.
Ashes - Released 2005
According to Anders the most Introvert album the band ever made. A dark and melancholic feeling is mixed with the wellknown element from the Tristania sound. After the release the band did a promotion tour with Nightwish, Kreator and stood on many summer festivals. Grunter Kjetil decide to leave the band in 2006
Illumination - Released 2007
A new chapter in the history. Vorph from Samael does the guest vocals, but Anders will perform the grunts live. A more melodic and heavier album in compare with 'Ashes.'
Tourdates
http://www.tristania.com/tours/
Website
http://www.tristania.com
Contactadress
Fanmail to Tristania :
Management and booking
Continental Concerts
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