Like so many
Scandinavian metal
bands of the '90s and 2000s,
Theatre of Tragedy
have had their share of personnel changes, and along the way, different lineups have offered different interpretations of
Dream Theater
's sound. On
Storm
, newcomer
Nell Sigland
(formerly of
the Crest
) replaces
Liv Kristine Espenaes
as
Theatre
's female lead vocalist; some longtime fans will wonder if there can be life after
Espenaes
for the Norwegian outfit, and the answer is a definite yes.
Sigland
sounds a lot like her predecessor, favoring an angelic, sweetly ethereal approach, and she proves herself to be a valuable addition to
on an
industrial
-tinged
goth metal
/
goth rock
disc that is aggressive and rocking but never flat-out brutal.
still goes for the female singer/male singer juxtaposition, but
Raymond Rohonyi
(the male lead singer) doesn't embrace an extreme vocal style; instead of a
death metal
growl, a
black metal
rasp or tortured metalcore screaming, what we get from
Rohonyi
is merely a mainstream vocal style with a slightly ominous edge. In fact, those who are hoping for any harsh, blistering, cave-your-skull-in antics on
will be disappointed; nothing really extreme or punishing occurs. What
does offer is a highly melodic, very musical and listenable
goth
album with a strong sense of craftsmanship;
enthusiasts will find a great deal to admire about
even if they aren't big
metal
fans. Along the way,
have had their creative ups and downs (more ups than downs). The appealing
is one of their more consistent efforts and is a welcome addition to their catalog even though it isn't the sledgehammer assault that some headbangers were no doubt hoping for. ~ Alex Henderson