Theatre of Tragedy
Encyclopedia
Theatre of Tragedy was a Norwegian
band from Stavanger
, active between 1993 and 2010. They are best known for their earlier albums, which provided a great deal of influence to the gothic metal
genre.
had recently quit his former band Phobia and started looking for a new musical project to play in. A friend of his told Hein that a band called Suffering Grief was looking for a new drummer, and after contacting them, he joined the band. At the time, Suffering Grief was composed of vocalist Raymond István Rohonyi and guitarists Pål Bjåstad and Tommy Lindal. No bassist had joined the band yet, but Eirik T. Saltrø had agreed to play with them in live concerts.
After finding a rehearsal place, the band decided to work upon a couple of piano
arrangements composed by Lorentz Aspen
. The vocals, at the time, were mostly entirely composed by raw death grunts.
After composing their first song, "Lament of the Perishing Roses", the band changed its name to La Reine Noir and then to Theatre of Tragedy. They subsequently invited singer Liv Kristine Espenæs to do female vocals for one song, but quickly invited her to join the band permanently.
In 1994, their first studio demo
was recorded, and in 1995, the debut album Theatre of Tragedy
was released, followed by Velvet Darkness They Fear
in 1996 and the A Rose for the Dead
EP
in 1997, which contained unreleased material from Velvet Darkness They Fear. Arguably, the band reached the apogee of its career in 1998, with the release of the critically acclaimed album Aégis
.
Released in 2000, Musique
was a massive departure from the gothic metal sound that Theatre of Tragedy had developed over the previous three albums. The heavy guitars and Early Modern English lyrics were replaced by electropop and industrial
-influenced metal. It was met with a very mixed reception, and while some older fans were understandably shocked by the new direction of the band, it did gain them a number of new fans.
With 2002's Assembly
, the band continued along the same musical path as on their previous album. It was seen as a more refined and confident electropop record than its predecessor. It was also the first album to feature their long-time session guitarist, Vegard K. Thorsen, as a full member of the band.
In August 2003, the band declared in an official statement on their website
, that Liv Kristine was removed from the band's line-up due to "musical differences which could not be bridged".
Female singer Nell Sigland
(from The Crest
) joined Theatre of Tragedy on the following year. In winter 2004/2005 a short concert tour (together with Pain
, Sirenia
and Tiamat
) with Sigland singing was performed.
The band released their sixth studio album
Storm on March 24, 2006 and a Europe
an tour followed, with Gothminister
as supporting act. The album's title song was released as a single on February 24, 2006. While still keeping on the industrial and electronic roots of the last two albums, the album showed a return to some of the sounds developed in their first albums.
On 2 October 2008, Theatre of Tragedy celebrated their 15th anniversary. In December 2008 the band posted a snippet of new track "Frozen," which was expected to be on the new album, on their MySpace music page:
In June 2009 saw the band reveal Forever Is The World as the title of the new album. Their 7th album, it was released in Europe on 21 September 2009, with the band making a step towards their earlier sound of Aégis. A special Tour Edition of Forever Is The World was issued on March 12, 2010. The Tour Edition contained a bonus CD known as the "Addenda EP" which contains song reworkings and unreleased tracks.
Metal Mind Productions issued a press release in July stating that they were, with the co-operation of the band, re-releasing Musique
and Assembly
. Both albums have been remastered and will be backed with bonus tracks. New liner notes and artwork are said to be a part of the package. Each album is limited to 2000 numbered copies.
On 1 March 2010, Theatre of Tragedy issued a statement informing fans of their decision to split on 2 October 2010. The statement cited personal desires to spend more time with family and an inability to juggle their everyday working lives with a "rock and roll" lifestyle. On 12 March, Theatre of Tragedy kicked off their farewell tour, "Forever is the World Tour". The Norwegian symphonic goth metal band Where Angels Fall played support on the European part of the tour. In September, fans helped the band to secure funds to finish their first and last DVD by making donations when the label pulled out most of the funding for the production.
(commonly referred to as "Beauty and the Beast" vocals) – and on their first three albums, presented lyrics written predominantly in Early Modern English
. Starting from the album Musique
, however, Theatre of Tragedy made drastic changes to its style, which became significantly inspired by the industrial rock
genre, abandoning Early Modern English writing and death grunts in the process.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
band from Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, active between 1993 and 2010. They are best known for their earlier albums, which provided a great deal of influence to the gothic metal
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...
genre.
Biography
Theatre of Tragedy was founded on 2 October 1993. Drummer Hein Frode HansenHein Frode Hansen
Hein Frode Hansen is a Norwegian heavy metal drummer. He was the original vocalist of the power metal band Serpent, formed in 1989. In 1990 he started playing drums in the death metal band Phobia. Both bands broke up in 1991...
had recently quit his former band Phobia and started looking for a new musical project to play in. A friend of his told Hein that a band called Suffering Grief was looking for a new drummer, and after contacting them, he joined the band. At the time, Suffering Grief was composed of vocalist Raymond István Rohonyi and guitarists Pål Bjåstad and Tommy Lindal. No bassist had joined the band yet, but Eirik T. Saltrø had agreed to play with them in live concerts.
After finding a rehearsal place, the band decided to work upon a couple of piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
arrangements composed by Lorentz Aspen
Lorentz Aspen
Lorentz Aspen is a Norwegian heavy metal pianist and keyboardist. He played in Theatre of Tragedy from October 2, 1993 to October 2, 2010 and with them he released seven studio albums, one live album and five EP's...
. The vocals, at the time, were mostly entirely composed by raw death grunts.
After composing their first song, "Lament of the Perishing Roses", the band changed its name to La Reine Noir and then to Theatre of Tragedy. They subsequently invited singer Liv Kristine Espenæs to do female vocals for one song, but quickly invited her to join the band permanently.
In 1994, their first studio demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
was recorded, and in 1995, the debut album Theatre of Tragedy
Theatre of Tragedy (album)
Theatre of Tragedy is the self-titled debut album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy. The album sold approximately 75,000 copies.-Track listing:# "A Hamlet for a Slothful Vassal" – 4:05 # "Cheerful Dirge" – 5:02...
was released, followed by Velvet Darkness They Fear
Velvet Darkness They Fear
Velvet Darkness They Fear is the second album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy. It was released in 1996 through Massacre Records.- Music :...
in 1996 and the A Rose for the Dead
A Rose for the Dead
A Rose for the Dead was the last release using the doom metal-influenced sound Theatre of Tragedy originally adopted. "Decades" is a Joy Division cover.-Track listing:# "A Rose for the Dead" – 5:11# "Der Spiegel" – 5:17...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in 1997, which contained unreleased material from Velvet Darkness They Fear. Arguably, the band reached the apogee of its career in 1998, with the release of the critically acclaimed album Aégis
Aégis
Aégis is the third music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and the last album of their musical period defined by gothic stylings and Early Modern English lyrics.- Music and lyrics :...
.
Released in 2000, Musique
Musique (album)
Musique is the fourth music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and the album that marked the switch from gothic metal with Early Modern English lyrics to a more electronic style, using Modern English....
was a massive departure from the gothic metal sound that Theatre of Tragedy had developed over the previous three albums. The heavy guitars and Early Modern English lyrics were replaced by electropop and industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
-influenced metal. It was met with a very mixed reception, and while some older fans were understandably shocked by the new direction of the band, it did gain them a number of new fans.
With 2002's Assembly
Assembly (album)
Assembly is the fifth music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and continued the group's departure from gothic to a more electronic style of metal...
, the band continued along the same musical path as on their previous album. It was seen as a more refined and confident electropop record than its predecessor. It was also the first album to feature their long-time session guitarist, Vegard K. Thorsen, as a full member of the band.
In August 2003, the band declared in an official statement on their website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
, that Liv Kristine was removed from the band's line-up due to "musical differences which could not be bridged".
Female singer Nell Sigland
Nell Sigland
Nell Sigland is a Norwegian heavy metal singer. She is the co-founder of The Crest. On June 3, 2004 she joined Theatre of Tragedy, replacing Liv Kristine.-With The Crest:* Straightjacket Singalongs – Demo...
(from The Crest
The Crest
The Crest was a gothic metal/Darkwave band from Oslo, Norway noted for their gothic metal with catchy melodies, massive guitars, and a soothing female voice. The band was formed in 1996 by Nell and Kristian Sigland...
) joined Theatre of Tragedy on the following year. In winter 2004/2005 a short concert tour (together with Pain
Pain (band)
Pain was an American rock band from Mobile and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The main songwriters Dan and Pose, grew up in Mobile and graduated from Mcgill Toolen High school in midtown Mobile. Though they have not produced any chart-topping hits, the band enjoyed a semi-mainstream following after touring...
, Sirenia
Sirenia (band)
Sirenia is a gothic metal band from Stavanger, Norway which incorporates a mixture of gothic metal and symphonic metal, as well as extreme metal and death metal elements...
and Tiamat
Tiamat (band)
-Biography:Initially, the band played straightforward black metal under the name Treblinka. After having recorded the album Sumerian Cry in 1989, vocalist/guitarist Johan Edlund and bassist Jörgen Thullberg parted ways with the other two founding members, and subsequently changed the name to Tiamat...
) with Sigland singing was performed.
The band released their sixth studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
Storm on March 24, 2006 and a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an tour followed, with Gothminister
Gothminister
Gothminister is an industrial metal band from Norway. Formed in 1999, they have released four albums and have had success in Germany, playing many German music festivals, including Wave-Gotik-Treffen , the Dark Storm Festival, the M'era Luna Festival, and performing for over 10,000 people at the...
as supporting act. The album's title song was released as a single on February 24, 2006. While still keeping on the industrial and electronic roots of the last two albums, the album showed a return to some of the sounds developed in their first albums.
On 2 October 2008, Theatre of Tragedy celebrated their 15th anniversary. In December 2008 the band posted a snippet of new track "Frozen," which was expected to be on the new album, on their MySpace music page:
-
- "Time for some updates. Things are slowly moving forward with the next album. As usual with the Theatre machinery there is many things to take into consideration when doing stuff and recently we were forced to change collaborators for the production of the album, and postpone the recordings. But fear not the heavy responsibility has been entrusted to Alexander Møklebust (Zeromancer, Seigmen, Gåte, Monomen, Delaware etc) and the ToT crew will enter Room 13 in May and June for recordings and general mayhem! Estimated release from AFM is end of September. Rumor has it that there will be a vinyl version for the diehard fans. We will keep you posted."
In June 2009 saw the band reveal Forever Is The World as the title of the new album. Their 7th album, it was released in Europe on 21 September 2009, with the band making a step towards their earlier sound of Aégis. A special Tour Edition of Forever Is The World was issued on March 12, 2010. The Tour Edition contained a bonus CD known as the "Addenda EP" which contains song reworkings and unreleased tracks.
Metal Mind Productions issued a press release in July stating that they were, with the co-operation of the band, re-releasing Musique
Musique (album)
Musique is the fourth music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and the album that marked the switch from gothic metal with Early Modern English lyrics to a more electronic style, using Modern English....
and Assembly
Assembly (album)
Assembly is the fifth music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and continued the group's departure from gothic to a more electronic style of metal...
. Both albums have been remastered and will be backed with bonus tracks. New liner notes and artwork are said to be a part of the package. Each album is limited to 2000 numbered copies.
On 1 March 2010, Theatre of Tragedy issued a statement informing fans of their decision to split on 2 October 2010. The statement cited personal desires to spend more time with family and an inability to juggle their everyday working lives with a "rock and roll" lifestyle. On 12 March, Theatre of Tragedy kicked off their farewell tour, "Forever is the World Tour". The Norwegian symphonic goth metal band Where Angels Fall played support on the European part of the tour. In September, fans helped the band to secure funds to finish their first and last DVD by making donations when the label pulled out most of the funding for the production.
Musical style
The band made use of contrasting vocals – male bass vocals (making some use of death grunts) and female soprano singingSoprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
(commonly referred to as "Beauty and the Beast" vocals) – and on their first three albums, presented lyrics written predominantly in Early Modern English
Early Modern English
Early Modern English is the stage of the English language used from about the end of the Middle English period to 1650. Thus, the first edition of the King James Bible and the works of William Shakespeare both belong to the late phase of Early Modern English...
. Starting from the album Musique
Musique (album)
Musique is the fourth music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and the album that marked the switch from gothic metal with Early Modern English lyrics to a more electronic style, using Modern English....
, however, Theatre of Tragedy made drastic changes to its style, which became significantly inspired by the industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
genre, abandoning Early Modern English writing and death grunts in the process.
Final lineup
- Raymond István Rohonyi – Vocals (1993–2010)
- Nell SiglandNell SiglandNell Sigland is a Norwegian heavy metal singer. She is the co-founder of The Crest. On June 3, 2004 she joined Theatre of Tragedy, replacing Liv Kristine.-With The Crest:* Straightjacket Singalongs – Demo...
– Vocals (2004–2010) - Frank ClaussenFrank ClaussenFrank Claussen is a Norwegian heavy metal guitarist. From 1997-2010 he played in Theatre of Tragedy, and with them released six studio albums, a live album and several studio EP'sEP.-With Theatre of Tragedy:...
– Guitars (1997–2010) - Vegard K. Thorsen – Guitars (1999–2010)
- Lorentz AspenLorentz AspenLorentz Aspen is a Norwegian heavy metal pianist and keyboardist. He played in Theatre of Tragedy from October 2, 1993 to October 2, 2010 and with them he released seven studio albums, one live album and five EP's...
– Keyboards (1993–2010) - Hein Frode HansenHein Frode HansenHein Frode Hansen is a Norwegian heavy metal drummer. He was the original vocalist of the power metal band Serpent, formed in 1989. In 1990 he started playing drums in the death metal band Phobia. Both bands broke up in 1991...
– Drums (1993–2010)
Former members
- Liv Kristine Espenæs KrullLiv KristineLiv Kristine Espenæs Krull , better known as Liv Kristine, is the former vocalist for the band Theatre of Tragedy and current vocalist for the band Leaves' Eyes.- Career :...
– Vocals (1993–2003) - Tommy Lindal – Guitars (1993–1997)
- Tommy Olsson – Guitars (1997–1999)
- Geir Flikkeid – Guitars (1995–1997)
- Pål Bjåstad – Guitars (1993–1995)
- Eirik T. Saltrø – Bass (1993–2000)
Albums
- Theatre of TragedyTheatre of Tragedy (album)Theatre of Tragedy is the self-titled debut album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy. The album sold approximately 75,000 copies.-Track listing:# "A Hamlet for a Slothful Vassal" – 4:05 # "Cheerful Dirge" – 5:02...
(1995) - Velvet Darkness They FearVelvet Darkness They FearVelvet Darkness They Fear is the second album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy. It was released in 1996 through Massacre Records.- Music :...
(1996) - AégisAégisAégis is the third music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and the last album of their musical period defined by gothic stylings and Early Modern English lyrics.- Music and lyrics :...
(1998) - MusiqueMusique (album)Musique is the fourth music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and the album that marked the switch from gothic metal with Early Modern English lyrics to a more electronic style, using Modern English....
(2000) - AssemblyAssembly (album)Assembly is the fifth music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and continued the group's departure from gothic to a more electronic style of metal...
(2002) - Storm (2006)
- Forever Is the WorldForever Is the WorldForever Is the World is the seventh and final studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Theatre of Tragedy. It was released on September 18, 2009 on AFM Records. The album was produced by Zeromancer singer Alexander Møklebust and mastered by Bjørn Engelmann...
(2009)
EP's
- Theatre of Tragedy (demo, 1994)
- A Rose for the DeadA Rose for the DeadA Rose for the Dead was the last release using the doom metal-influenced sound Theatre of Tragedy originally adopted. "Decades" is a Joy Division cover.-Track listing:# "A Rose for the Dead" – 5:11# "Der Spiegel" – 5:17...
(1997) - ViragoVirago (EP)"Virago" is a 1999 EP collection by Theatre of Tragedy. The disc contains tracks left off the Aégis record plus tracks from Velvet Darkness They Fear and the debut album. The EP was also known as the "Shaped Edition"...
(1999) - InperspectiveInperspective (EP)"Inperspective" is a 2000 EP release by Norwegian metallers Theatre of Tragedy. The EP was released not long after electropop album Musique and contained various electronic remixes of tracks from Aégis and Velvet Darkness They Fear.-Tracklist:...
(2000) - Addenda (2010)
Singles
- "Der Tanz Der Schatten" (1996)
- "Cassandra" (1998)
- "Image" (2000)
- "Machine" (2001)
- "Envision" (2002)
- "Let You Down" (2002)
- "Storm" (2006)
- "Deadland" (2009)