Trail of Tears - Profoundemonium (2000)Release ID: 9733
The gothic melodeath of Trail of Tears continues in their sophomore album Profoundemonium! However, the melodeath now has much more in common with 90s Dark Tranquillity than the more deathly bands out there, exemplified by the guitar harmonies and acoustic/electric interplay. The deathly side also sounds more blackened, in battle between fast and slow. The band sure know how to take their sound seriously, in contrast to the cover art that's practically a towel model photoshoot...
Profoundemonium has more ideas explored than Disclosure in Red, particularly in the orchestration and vocals. Female vocalist Helena Michaelsen lets out her singing for the last time before leaving the band after recording (later joining Epica when they were still named Sahara Dust), replaced by Cathrine Paulsen shortly after.
"Countdown to Ruin" is an epic synth-orchestral intro that should really fit well in a climatic video game scene. Then "Driven Through the Ruins" drives through with the usual gothic melodeath, picking up where their debut left off. "Fragile Emotional Disorder" also has clean singing, this time coming from guest vocalist Kjetil Nordhus, best known as the lead vocalist of Green Carnation, and having a more prominent role in Trail of Tears' next 3 albums.
We get a cool standout in the title track to level up the flow with Jonathan Perez's powerful drumming to keep things moving. "Sign of the Shameless" shows that there's no shame in what the band can do with their sound. "In Frustration's Preludium" is another interlude, and what's interesting is, the piano melody at 0:40 sounds a lot like the intro riff melody that kicks off Amorphis' "Into Hiding". Although it can be considered a coincidence, I can totally understand if Amorphis left a profound influential mark in Trail of Tears' sound. It segues to highlight "In Frustration's Web" which has strong Sabbath-ish riffing. Also, at over 3 and a half minutes in, it's that "Into Hiding" melody again!
The otherwise great soprano vocals of Helena seem to take a toll in "Released at Last". It's not bad, but there could've been better control. "Image of Hope" has more of the gothic melodies of Edge of Sanity and mid-90s Paradise Lost. "Disappointment's True Face" is the ultimate highlight for me, with the riffing and vocals sounding industrial without altering much of the usual sound. "The Haunted" once again shows that melodeath doesn't have to be as thrashy as the band The Haunted.
Profoundemonium is another step in the journey of Trail of Tears with a little more to offer than Disclosure in Red. This is the kind of deathly symphonic gothic metal I need without it having to be as overly melodic as Sirenia and Tristania. The second time can make a promising sign....
Favorites: "Driven Through the Ruins", "Profoundemonium", "In Frustration's Web", "Image of Hope", "Disappointment's True Face"
