Tiamat

"Judas Christ"
(Century Media) 

Tiamat for better than a decade has been a work in progress, slowly evolving and exploring and expounding human emotion put to waking-dream like textural proportions that have seen them rise from the ashes of darkness. "Judas Christ" is an end result of vocalist Johan Edlund's future vision; of viewing the world through the eyes of maturity and following an illuminative philosophy that searches for truth and embraces hope. His earlier "Lucyfire" solo release signified an evocative and provocative nature that embraced modernity within a well of electronic beats, Pop hooks and Gothic purity. So it is here then that we're maybe not quite so bedazzled as we might've been had we not known this. "I do not want to the be the type of guy who is just spreading a sad and gloomy mood," wrote Edlund in Tiamat's press release, and "Judas Christ" delivers on his promise. Tiamat's experimentalism is ongoing, from the bitter darkness of their "Sumerian City" debut, maximizing their lust for the dramatic on their bold "Wildhoney" breakthrough, and now "Judas," taking another leap forward into the world of Synth-Rock and Electronic mood music. While opening tracks like "The Return Of The Son Of Nothing," and "So Much For Suicide" feature their expected core elements, wistful and winding atmospheric pieces strewn with effectually dark guitar chords and melancholic vocals, alternatively, "Vote For Love," "Fireflower" and "Love Is As Good As Soma," set sights ahead of past boundaries by welcoming love and longing with Gahan-like sincerity enveloped in ambient radiance. The real turn takes place during the latter half where uptempo guitars meet with acoustic interludes and pre-arranged intricacies to compliment Edmund's unabashed singing where he confidently steps forward on the Sisters' drawn "Angel Holograms," "Spine," and "I Am In Love With Myself." "Judas Christ" marks new thematic territory for Tiamat, their music reflecting a triumphant hope over despair outlook with radicalist free-thought principles. It's a valiant departure rather than a violent one where they've widened the expanse to create a spacious record that's totally alive and inspired.

More from the Online Metal Journal