After the somewhat experimental Free Fall Into Fear, I greeted the new album Existentia with a certain apprehension. And as it turned out, my fears were justified.
After the disc's release, nearly all the musicians left the band, and Ronny Thorsen was left on his own. Perhaps it was precisely because of these internal contradictions — which must have been brewing for a long time rather than arising overnight — that the album turned out forced and nondescript, with melodies seemingly conjured from thin air that only breed a growing sense of rejection from track to track.
But it's not all gloom. There are, of course, some engaging moments on Existentia, and toward the end of the disc a few decent tracks even appear, but they are akin to glimpses of sun through a blanket of clouds and ultimately don't save the situation.
This could be forgiven of a newcomer band with a debut album, but certainly not a group with five albums and many years of experience under their belt.
As far as I know, vocalist Cathrine Paulsen has joined Ronny, and TRAIL OF TEARS will continue their activity. I hope these lineup changes will influence the next album, but for now I cannot give anything more than a "satisfactory" rating.