Tribulation Force (album)
Encyclopedia
Tribulation Force is the third album by the German gothic metal
band Necromance
, released on Pleitegeier Records in 2001. While considered the band's best effort by many, the album did not receive any advertising, leading to poor sales and forced Necromance to split up.
, the band parted ways with the guitarist Sandra Bogdan, and Necromance was joined by the female singer Raphaela Poltermann who contributes to the band's sound with her vivid voice. Another member addition was the drummer Jean Schulze, who had previously been in the band years a go when Necromance played death metal and now replaced the drum machine called "Murd Retupmoc." Because of Schulze's addition, it was rumored that the band would return to its death metal roots, which did not happen. Despite having a real drummer, Necromance's drumming approach did not change drastically from the previous simple rhythm patterns and steril sound.
Tribulation Force was produced by Lutz Demler and Mozart of the pioneering German gothic industrial metal and Neue Deutsche Härte
group Umbra et Imago
. According to Necromance's official MySpace, Tribulation Force was the band's most expensive album to record and produce, and after its release the album did not receive any promotion, marketing or advertising from the record label. Necromance has stated that even their early demos were better known than this album. The band ended up in financial difficulties and sold their equipment and instruments to pay the expenses. As a result, Necromance disbanded in April 2002.
The album saw an improved sound production that many critics called rich and professional. Musically, the album continued mixing gothic metal and industrial music. The title song, "Scharze Sonne," and "The Beast" consist purely of industrial sounds and distorted vocal effects. Both "Eternal Life" and "I Believe" showcase a more future pop or darkwave
type influence with Poltermann singing catchy, romantic choruses accompanied by shimmering keyboards. "The Beyond", often considered one of the highlights of the album, was released in 2005 on the Cold Fusion Music's sampler Lunar Eclipse. The opening song "Wohl angetan von dieser Welt" progresses from lone guitar riff to rich gothic metal piece. "He is Risen" consists of dark, doomy organ melodies and horrific, monstrous vocal effects repeating the song title. "Der Schläfer" is a rich, doom metal -esque instrumental with layers of sounds. The closing song, "Under the Sign of the Pyramid," represents a style reminiscent of the Neue Deutsche Härte genre with its militant drum beats accompanied by crunchy riffs and harsh, rough vocals by Runhardt Scheffler. The album's lyrics are inspired by the Book of Revelation
.
The album was well-received by magazines such as Rock Hard and Metal Heart.
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
band Necromance
Necromance
Necromance was a Christian gothic metal band from Spremberg, Germany, formed in 1987, disbanded in 2002. Originally signed to Morbid Records as a death metal act and later signed to Pleitegeier Records after changing the music style, the band built a reputation in the underground scenes touring...
, released on Pleitegeier Records in 2001. While considered the band's best effort by many, the album did not receive any advertising, leading to poor sales and forced Necromance to split up.
Recording
Following the release of the previous album, Wiederkehr der SchmerzenWiederkehr der Schmerzen
Wiederkehr der Schmerzen is the second album by the German gothic metal band Necromance, released on Pleitegeier Records in 1999.-Recording:...
, the band parted ways with the guitarist Sandra Bogdan, and Necromance was joined by the female singer Raphaela Poltermann who contributes to the band's sound with her vivid voice. Another member addition was the drummer Jean Schulze, who had previously been in the band years a go when Necromance played death metal and now replaced the drum machine called "Murd Retupmoc." Because of Schulze's addition, it was rumored that the band would return to its death metal roots, which did not happen. Despite having a real drummer, Necromance's drumming approach did not change drastically from the previous simple rhythm patterns and steril sound.
Tribulation Force was produced by Lutz Demler and Mozart of the pioneering German gothic industrial metal and Neue Deutsche Härte
Neue Deutsche Härte
Neue Deutsche Härte is a genre of industrial metal. The term was invented by the German music press after the release of the debut album Herzeleid by Rammstein....
group Umbra et Imago
Umbra et imago
Umbra et Imago is a German Gothic metal and Neue Deutsche Härte band formed in autumn 1991. The original lineup consisted of singer Mozart , Michael Gillian, Nail and Torsten B...
. According to Necromance's official MySpace, Tribulation Force was the band's most expensive album to record and produce, and after its release the album did not receive any promotion, marketing or advertising from the record label. Necromance has stated that even their early demos were better known than this album. The band ended up in financial difficulties and sold their equipment and instruments to pay the expenses. As a result, Necromance disbanded in April 2002.
The album saw an improved sound production that many critics called rich and professional. Musically, the album continued mixing gothic metal and industrial music. The title song, "Scharze Sonne," and "The Beast" consist purely of industrial sounds and distorted vocal effects. Both "Eternal Life" and "I Believe" showcase a more future pop or darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
type influence with Poltermann singing catchy, romantic choruses accompanied by shimmering keyboards. "The Beyond", often considered one of the highlights of the album, was released in 2005 on the Cold Fusion Music's sampler Lunar Eclipse. The opening song "Wohl angetan von dieser Welt" progresses from lone guitar riff to rich gothic metal piece. "He is Risen" consists of dark, doomy organ melodies and horrific, monstrous vocal effects repeating the song title. "Der Schläfer" is a rich, doom metal -esque instrumental with layers of sounds. The closing song, "Under the Sign of the Pyramid," represents a style reminiscent of the Neue Deutsche Härte genre with its militant drum beats accompanied by crunchy riffs and harsh, rough vocals by Runhardt Scheffler. The album's lyrics are inspired by the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
.
The album was well-received by magazines such as Rock Hard and Metal Heart.
Track listing
- "Wohl angetan von dieser Welt" - 6:11
- "Tribulation Force" - 3:51
- "Eternal Life" - 5:57
- "Schwarze Sonne" - 4:05
- "The Beyound" - 4:39
- "The Beast" - 7:09
- "He Is Risen" - 5:20
- "Der Schläfer" - 3:22
- "I Believe" - 4:10
- "Under the Sign of the Pyramid" - 5:24
Personnel
- Runhardt Scheffler - vocals, guitar
- Raphaela Poltermann - vocals
- René Schwulera - synthesizer
- Jean Schulze - drums
External links
- Wiederkehr der Schmerzen at Metal-Archives