Triosphere - The Road Less Travelled
CD Info
2010
AFM Records
12 Tracks
English Lyrics
Which European countries have been major sources of female-fronted metal bands over the years? Quite a few, it seems: The Netherlands, Finland, Germany, … and don’t forget about Norway. This Scandinavian country is home to a number of influential bands: Tristania, Sirenia, Theatre of Tragedy, Beseech, and Octavia Sperati, just for starters. Notice a trend, though? The Norwegian bands I’ve listed are (or were) pioneers of gothic, doom, and death metal. Many of their musical countrywomen and men have followed their footsteps, usually without straying far from that dark path. That’s not what Trondheim-based Triosphere has done, however. Since last May, this melodic heavy metal quartet has steadily won over new fans with their second album, The Road Less Travelled.
For The Road Less Travelled, Triosphere whips up heavy metal with progressive elements, colossal melodies, and lush atmospheres that inject a retro feel. The result is a fusion of classic and modern metal styles that blasts your eardrums while touching your heart. Singer/bassist Ida Haukland leads the charge with her commanding, husky wails. Her confidence never wavers as she belts out her abstract, emotional lyrics. Haukland’s bandmates also give impressive performances, particularly on guitars. Lead guitarist Marius Silver Bergesen doubles as a second rhythm guitarist with Tor Ole Byberg, so the riffs and chords in each song are several layers deep. Fans can hear a similar intensity on Triosphere’s 2006 debut album, Onwards. However, the older material lacks the maturity that is the beating heart of The Road Less Travelled¸ making the new album a more exciting choice.
Most of the horsepower on The Road Less Travelled comes from the uptempo tracks. Hammering riffs, double-kick drumming, and defiant lyrics make "Driven" an outstanding opener. "Twenty One" rockets skyward with insistent guitars and a soaring chorus, while "Human Condition" shows Haukland exploring the bluesy and sassy parts of her range. If any one song epitomizes Triosphere’s sound on The Road Less Travelled, however, it’s "Worlds Apart." Alternating fast and slow rhythms and Bergesen’s glissandos give off the same raucous energy heard elsewhere on the album. That’s when Haukland bursts in with her escalating harmonies and wise lyrics ("The universe is in your heart/ It’s never been worlds apart / This is not all there is, but our souls are too black to see"), turning "Worlds Apart" into an anthem of hope and empowerment.
Besides the supersonic rockers, Triosphere also excel at ballads and instrumentals. The Road Less Travelled contains only two ballads, but they possess the majesty of 80’s female-fronted rock and metal bands such as Heart. "The Anger and the Silent Remorse" in particular is gorgeous. This requiem embodies the two emotions in its title: staccato riffs and accelerating drums symbolizing anger; and a slow, haunting refrain and strings saturating the quieter moments of guilt. As for the instrumentals, each one shows different facets of Triosphere’s music. For example, "Echoes" focuses on the band’s emotional side – in a manner you wouldn’t expect. This track features the choral melodies from each song on The Road Less Travelled in a composition for piano and strings. It’s a gentler, more graceful interpretation of the strength and ache portrayed by Haukland’s voice and lyrics – and fans will enjoy guessing which segments come from which songs.
Melodies play a crucial role in music, of course, and The Road Less Travelled features lots of stratospheric melodies. However, a few songs struggle to reach these heights because their refrains either lack punch ("Death of Jane Doe"), don’t flow well with the rest of the piece ("Marionette"), or simply can’t lift a less-memorable song that high ("Watcher," "The Road Less Travelled"). Also, Haukland’s vocals on The Road Less Travelled leave me feeling oddly conflicted. This lady demonstrates incredible projection and conviction, but very little versatility. She sounds so comfortable belting it out at a mid-range register that she rarely goes higher, lower, or softer (mostly because the music doesn’t call for it). Other powerhouse metal singers such as Floor Jansen and Tarja Turunen exploit their voices in every possible way. Maybe it’s unfair of me to compare Haukland to the best of the bunch. But I can’t help feeling that her abilities blow me away yet leave more to be desired.
Regardless, it’s time for the metal world to take the trip known as The Road Less Travelled. Instead of taking the worn Norwegian path through darkness and doom, Triosphere has chosen to drive a high-speed train fueled by musical virtuosity and vocal might through the evolving landscapes of the human spirit. It sounds a bit daunting, but don’t be afraid to give The Road Less Travelled a chance. It shows an up-and-coming band achieving a rare balance of force, ambiance, and introspection without sacrificing their songwriting skills. And even if you find substance boring, the music’s intensity and Haukland’s vocal presence will give you good reason to headbang all you want. So are you ready to take The Road Less Travelled? If you are, good – because Triosphere has your one-way ticket. Enjoy the trip!
8.5 / 10
Best Songs: "The Anger and the Silent Remorse," "Driven," "Worlds Apart," "Twenty One"
Recommended for fans of Doro, Arjen Lucassen’s Ayreon and Star One projects, 80’s metal, or heavier progressive or traditional metal
The Road Less Travelled is currently not available in the Sonic Cathedral Store, but you can find it at AFM Records’ online store, iTunes, Amazon, and other online media outlets.
