Theatre Of Tragedy
„Velvet Darkness They Fear“
Goth Metal, Dark Rock. Remaster, Reisue, 2 LP. 2024 (1996)

In 1996, Theatre Of Tragedy released their second album, "Velvet Darkness They Fear." It's a blend of Gothic, Death Metal, and Doom, all a touch less harsh, with a more rounded edge. Raymond Rohonyi sings and growls, and even manages to be understood, despite the use of Middle English. Here again, ToT (Theatre Of Tragedy) celebrates mystical lyrics, which perfectly complement the atmosphere. And then there's the very high, bright vocals of Liv Kristine Espenæs. Some call it soprano, but it isn't. In any case, Gothic Rock/Metal swept across the world in the mid-1990s, and "Velvet Darkness They Fear" was successful thanks to its unique mix. Melodic, interesting, and appealing to me as a prog fan, even if I find it kitschy. It's beautifully kitschy. And clearly song-oriented.

From the album's tracklist, "Fair and Guilding Copesmate Death," "And When He Falleths," and "Black As The Devil Painted" stand out. "Der Tanz Der Schatten" (The Dance of the Shadows) garnered even more interest in Germany. And it's precisely this song that I don't like, because in German it doesn't sound particularly melodic, comes across as negatively kitschy, and isn't beautiful at all. "And When He Falleth" is, for me, the most evocative song, due to the dialogues between Jane Asher and Vincent Price from the film "The Masque of the Red Death." However, I find all the songs more or less successful and can still recommend this album in 2025.

“And When He Falleth” deserves closer examination as my heart of the album.

"And When He Falleth" is, for me, the most evocative song on the album, not just because of the dialogue from "The Masque of the Red Death." Here, I feel like I'm witnessing a scene. Liv's voice floats above the music (unlike in "Liquid Man" from the album "Assembly"), while Raymond creates something dark beneath it. Then comes this dialogue—and then there's a drama within the music.

When Liv and Raymond sing, Liv sounds almost ethereal. Her voice isn't just beautiful; it seems to come from another, velvety dimension. Raymond is her antagonist, dark and heavy. Their voices clash. And that's what creates this peculiar atmosphere.

The music progresses slowly. The guitars hold back, drawing the song into a dark depth. Strings help create this almost cinematic atmosphere. I hardly hear a metal song here, but rather a scene that ToT is musically depicting.

And then Vincent Price appears. The whole thing takes on a face. The song becomes a little gothic theatrical piece. That's why "And When He Falleth" works so well for me. And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer.

The vinyl album is from Cosmic Key Creations, a limited reissue from 2024. The records lies flat and sounds clean.

Those who enjoy Gothic Metal/Rock and Doom will still find something to love in 2025. This album features vocals reminiscent of "The Beauty and the Beast." The atmosphere is dark, with only Liv's vocals providing a velvety moonlight in the darkness. Everything flows beautifully; even non-Goths will love this album, just as I did.

Raymond Rohonyi (Vocals)
Liv Kristine Espenæs (Vocals)
Tommy Lindal (Guitar)
Geir Flikkeid (Guitar, E-bow)
Lorentz Aspen (Piano, Synths)
Eirik T. Saltrø (Bass)
Hein Frode Hansen (Drums)

Theatre of Tragedy 1995
Velvet Darkness They Fear 1996
A Rose for the Dead (EP) 1997
Aegis 1998
Musique 2000
Assembly 2002
Storm 2006
Forever is the World 2009
Remixed 2019 (only Remixes)

The photos are all from my LP. The rights to all designs, logos, texts and fonts that can be seen in the photos are of course owned by the copyright holder.

TheProgThief
©05.04.2025
Mk 3