Tystnaden 'Sham of Perfection' review
Release date: 2006
Label(s): Limb Music
Duration: 46:10
Details
- First Embrace
- Münchausen Syndrome
- Tystnaden
- Metaphora
- The Foolish Plan
- Hamlet
- The Joke
- Rewards
- The Vanishing
- Pride vs Intellect
Review
Tystnaden — from Italy, despite the Swedish name — are a band that not many of you will be familiar with. This is their first studio album, released just last month, and it shows an unusually high level of songwriting skill for a debut album. They formed seven years ago, and have released two CDs prior to this album: Tystnaden (demo, 2000) and Fragments (EP, 2003).
Marketed as "Melodic Dark Metal with Angelic female vocals," the album combines a few different styles — from gothic metal not too dissimilar to After Forever, to melodic death metal ala In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, with a subtle hint of well-used synths — while managing to avoid directly imitating any bands. They pull it all off with surprising aplomb, especially considering this is their first full album.
The vocals are of a good standard throughout. The female vocals — which feature predominantly — are more rock-orientated than the operatic vocal style that you usually find with bands of this type, and I have to say that it suits the music much better. You can definitely hear the band's death metal roots in the male vocals and guitars, both of which are very Gothenburg-esque, and are thoroughly enjoyable. The synths are never overdone, and add a unique element to most of the songs.
For fans of gothic and/or melodic death metal, this CD is definitely worth checking out.
7/10