Bleak Black Metal from the Czech Republic (Zrcadleni Melancholie - Trist)

Member Name: Burning_Darkness

Product:	Zrcadleni Melancholie - Trist
Date:	06/07/09 (22 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Emotionally powerful, well executed

Disadvantages: Not for the fainthearted.

Trist is a two man project from the Czech Republic, that play black metal firmly in the depressive/shoegaze style. An individual known only as 'P' is responsible for drums, whilst Tristan is responsible for vocals, guitars, bass, production, artwork and lyrics, all of which are in Czech.

As the artwork would suggest, "Zrcadlení Melancholie" is, like all of Trist's output themed around extreme depression, and the music here is very simple, its two very long tracks consisting of bleak, repetitive, dissonant riffs and uncomplicated drumpatterns, with small changes in tempo throughout and warmer, strained guitar melodies standing out from the rumbling wash of sound. The songs have a hypnotic quality about them given their simplicity and length, but there are subtle chord-changes throughout and likewise the drums are organic-sounding and fairly varied considering their narrow remit, carrying the songs along nicely.

The vocals are a series of distant, tortured howls, which are screamed over the music with little concern for timing or song structure, although this looseness fits the music well. They are quite disturbing, and along with the music create an atmosphere that is both soothing and deeply unsettling. The two songs do show musical progression throughout, each subtly and gradually building to an emotional peak throughout its lengthy duration. The minimalist music comes across as very honest and is frequently starkly beautiful, crashing about the listener's ears in a series of mesmerising, seemingly endless waves.

Whilst "Zrcadlení Melancholie" is not as good as Trist's 2006 release "Stiny", its still a powerful piece of depressive black metal that will be of interest to fans of Burzum, Svart, Coldworld, Abyssic Hate, Hypothermia and Mourning Dawn.

Tracklisting-

1. Poslední Cesta 22:59
2. Trnový Labyrint 14:29

Total playing time 37:28

Summary: Powerful depressive black metal