Theatre of Tragedy
Theatre of Tragedy
Gothic-Metal, 1995

• CD, Massacre Records 1995
• MASS CD 063
• used 
• 2 LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered 2020
• Cosmic Key Creations
• CKC066
• new

Founded in 1994 in Stavanger, Norway, the band released their debut album, "Theatre of Tragedy," in 1995. They described their style as Gothic Metal, a label they maintained on their second album. Liv Kristine's sweet and soft vocals contrasted with the guttural growls of singer Raymond István Rohonyi, a style dubbed "Beauty and the Beast Metal," was characteristic of their early albums. This style was adopted by a growing number of bands in the burgeoning Gothic Metal scene. While Raymond Rohonyi's growling contrast disappeared from their third album onward, the interplay with Liv Kristine remained. Another feature of the first two albums was the use of Middle English lyrics.

I'm not a goth myself, and never have been. What I find interesting is the darkness, the playful arrangements, the hard riffs and pounding drums contrasted by clean female vocals. And of course, the pomp and circumstance. The pathos and the romantically dark lyrics. And that's exactly what I like about Theatre of Tragedy. Liv Kristine's voice is truly powerful. 

However, “…A Distance There Is” is an exception, as Liv carries the vocals entirely on her own. The metal also recedes completely, giving way to melancholic dark/gothic rock. Where otherwise the music is based on harshness and the contrast between Liv Kristine and Raymond Rohonyi, here Liv is the sole focus. The song builds slowly, developing a unique, melancholic atmosphere with rain, piano, and cello. Because all the harshness dissipates, it's one of the album's highlights for me. This kind of "break" appeals to me as a prog fan, even though the music itself isn't prog at all.

Highlights for me: “Cheerful Dirge”, “… A Distance There is …” (wonderfully pathetic and with a good length) and “Dying: I Only Feel Apathy”.
Theatre of Tragedy is a groundbreaking album for gothic metal. Nothing more and nothing less.

Addendum: I now also have the vinyl version. Remastered, reissue, gatefold, 180 grams, black vinyl. 2020 (1995). The record is of good quality and has excellent sound. The demos on sides C and D will certainly be interesting for fans, but not for me.

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

TheProgThief
©19.06.2024
Mk 3