Despite serious line-up problems, Norwegian dark metal outfit Trail of Tears will be issuing their fifth studio recording, which also marks their tenth anniversary. It would seem that the band is now, more or less, vocalist Ronny Thorsen - just lucky for him that he’s got a good album on the street soon when he’s going to recruit new people.

‘Existentia’ IS a really good album, but it never gets beyond that, although it by far surpasses in professionalism and song writing quality the latest release I listened to from Trail of Tears, namely 2002’s ‘A New Dimension of Might’.

The songs are well-wrought, the sound is really good, and Trail of Tears do have a fine sense for the dramatic and pompous, emphasised by a heavy use of synths and female vocals to create the contrast to Thorsen’s dark baritone.

Where the ‘A New Dimension of Might’ effort had an undercurrent of black metal, this new album has more of a gothy prog tinge to it, and it suits their sound.

As you’ve probably reckoned by now, I’m not a huge fan, but it’ll satisfy Trail of Tears fans and open new gates for the band as well, I’m sure.