Tiamat - The Ark Of The Covenant (2008) (12CD+DVD Box)

Sweden's Tiamat displayed an incredible learning curve in the year after their debut, resulting in 1991's excellent The Astral Sleep. Short synthesizer instrumentals ("Neon Aeon" and "The Seal") open and close the album, setting the stage for the band's new ability to incorporate background keyboard textures (often resembling angelic choirs) to even their most aggressive death metal. Vocalist Johan Edlund has already begun transforming his grunt into a raspy growl (actual singing would follow), and his songwriting is original and diversified on standouts like "Mountain of Doom," "Lady Temptress," and the multifaceted "A Winter Shadow." Acoustic guitar precipitates the otherwise furious "On Golden Wings" and "The Southernmost Voyage" (another highlight) and the band finally thrashes out a bit on "Ancient Entity" and "I Am the King (Of Dreams)."

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Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars : Johan Edlund
Guitars : Thomas Petersson
Bass : Jörgen Thullberg
Drums : Niklas Ekstrand

Track List:

01. Neo Aeon (Intro) [2:12]
02. Lady Temptress [3:47]
03. Mountain Of Doom [4:39]
04. Dead Boys’ Choir [1:55]
05. Sumerian Cry (Part III) [5:18]
06. On Golden Wings [5:01]
07. Ancient Entity [6:19]
08. The Southernmost Voyage [3:14]
09. Angels Far Beyond [4:45]
10. I Am The King (…Of Dreams) [4:36]
11. A Winter Shadows [5:26]
12. The Seal (Outro) [1:53]

The 1992 album Clouds was another major step in the quick sonic evolution of Tiamat, as the band continued to scale back their death metal roots while pursuing more conventional song structures. Songwriting contributions from new bassist Johnny Hagel take some of the load off vocalist Johan Edlund, whose improving English-speaking skills and raspy but clear intonations finally let listeners appreciate his esoteric lyrics. Every song on Clouds is distinct in its own way, but it doesn't get much better than "In a Dream" and "The Sleeping Beauty," both of which combine delicate acoustic guitars with crushing riffs and atmospheric keyboards. These same elements are mixed and matched in surprising fashion on "Smell of Incense," "The Scapegoat," and "Forever Burning Flames." The epic "Undressed" closes the album with similar inventiveness and points toward the future.

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Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars : Johan Edlund
Guitars : Thomas Petersson
Bass : Johnny Hagel
Drums : Niklas Ekstrand
Keyboards : Kenneth Roos

Track List:

01. In A Dream [5:13]
02. Clouds [3:40]
03. Smell Of Incense [4:29]
04. A Caress Of Stars [5:27]
05. The Sleeping Beauty [4:11]
06. Forever Burning Flames [4:23]
07. The Scapegoat [4:57]
08. Undressed [7:08]

Recorded during Tiamat's Clouds tour, this five-song release hardly smacks of an "official" live album for the Swedish metal innovators, but hardcore fans will certainly be pleased with its excellent sound quality. The band proves itself amply capable of reproducing their complex progressive death metal in a live setting, and though all songs sound great, "Mountain of Doom" and "The Sleeping Beauty" are especially impressive.

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Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars : Johan Edlund
Guitars : Thomas Petersson
Bass : Johnny Hagel
Drums : Niklas Ekstrand
Keyboards : Kenneth Roos

Track List:

01. In A Dream [5:01]
02. Ancient Entity [6:33]
03. The Sleeping Beauty [4:31]
04. Mountain Of Doom [5:28]
05. Angels Far Beyond [8:50]

Not even Tiamat's previous achievements and accelerated evolutionary pace could have prepared fans and critics for the unbelievable sounds contained in the band's fourth album, 1994's groundbreaking Wildhoney. The album elevated the group's combination of lingering death metal roots and ambient soundscapes to unparalleled heights of invention. Not necessarily a concept album in the lyrical sense, the record still operates as a virtually seamless aural experience, as tracks are often grouped into extended suites. The sounds of a running stream and chirping birds (actually the 30-second title track) introduce "Whatever That Hurts," which effortlessly shifts from its slow, massive riff to a surprisingly beautiful melody, each section topped with Johan Edlund's death metal grunting and gentle whispering vocals, respectively. "The Ar" follows, yielding another huge midpace riff and some angelic choruses before giving way to the industrial grind of "25th Floor." "Gaia" and "Visionaire" pretty much stand on their own, but each displays a bevy of contrasting elements, ranging between heavy and light, which make them just as remarkable. "Kaleidoscope" opens the next suite with a delicate acoustic guitar playing over the sound of falling rain, and is followed by "Do You Dream of Me?" perhaps the album's creative zenith. The song's ethereal quality owes much to its intertwining keyboard and guitar lines, not to mention Edlund's most singsong performance ever, and merges directly into the spacy feel of the instrumental guitar piece "Planets." The eight-minute "A Pocket Size Sun" takes a slight dip in quality but is hardly disappointing, and is very reminiscent of Pink Floyd.

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Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars : Johan Edlund
Guitars : Magnus Sahlgren
Bass : Johnny Hagel
Drums : Lars Sköld

Track List:

01. Wildhoney [0:56]
02. Whatever That Hurts [5:50]
03. The Ar [5:07]
04. 25Th Floor [1:52]
05. Gaia [6:29]
06. Visionaire [4:22]
07. Kaleidoscope [1:22]
08. Do You Dream Of Me? [5:09]
09. Planets [3:15]
10. A Pocket Size Sun [8:04]

Tiamat’s Gaia EP is most definitely a curio that belongs strictly in the domain of the collector. Following on the heels of the seminal Wildhoney, this represents a fairly trivial addition to the body of work surrounding that incredible release. It presents only two new tracks, one of which is a remix, in addition to four alternate versions of songs from Wildhoney. These four edited songs are simply the versions that were used in the album’s two videos, a radio edit of The AR, and a “remixed longform version” of Visionaire. The latter is slightly longer than the album version, but the mix is not sufficient to give it its own character or present it as a separate entity from the album version in any way. The other three are all shorter than the album versions—a trimmed intro here, a slightly less meandering outro or bridge section there—but ultimately, none of them stand out from the original versions. They are certainly a little more concise, but the slightly bloated and meandering nature of Wildhoney is an important aspect of its character. In any case, they do not sound hugely different, and actually require careful listening to identify the changes, with the exception of the title track which has been basically halved in length and is much more obviously different, and less absorbing.

www.metal-archives.com

Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars : Johan Edlund
Bass : Johnny Hagel
Drums : Lars Sköld


Track List:

01. Gaia (Video Edit) [3:47]
02. The Ar (Radio Edit) [3:27]
03. When You’Re In (Pink Floyd Cover) [5:51]
04. Whatever That Hurts (Video Edit) [4:22]
05. The Ar (Ind. Mix) [2:31]
06. Visionaire (Remixed Longform Version) [4:54]

Recorded live by P3LIVE, Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, at Gino in Stockholm, October 2nd 1994. Previously released as 'The Musical History of Tiamat' 2CD and limited to 500 copies.

Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars : Johan Edlund
Guitars : Magnus Sahlgren
Bass : Johnny Hagel
Drums : Lars Sköld

Track List:

01. Whatever That Hurts [5:46]
02. The Ar [4:55]
03. In A Dream [4:34]
04. 25th Floor [1:02]
05. Gaia [6:23]
06. Visionaire [4:11]
07. Kaleidoscope [0:32]
08. Do You Dream Of Me? [3:29]
09. The Sleeping Beauty [4:28]
10. A Pocket Size Sun [8:41]

A Deeper Kind of Slumber moves Tiamat even farther away from traditional heavy metal, with synthesizers dominating the arrangements and Johan Edlund doing completely away with metal growling in favor of an unearthly croon. Although it's not very metallic, the music is quite heavy in its own way, creating a numb, sleepy ambience that feels both introverted and resignedly pessimistic; perhaps this is due to Edlund's conceiving the album at home with little outside input, and his relationship difficulties at the time. A Deeper Kind of Slumber is perhaps a cut below Wildhoney in terms of consistent listenability, but Tiamat certainly cannot be accused of refusing to develop or experiment.

www.metal-archives.com

Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards : Johan Edlund
Guitars : Thomas Petersson
Bass : Anders Iwers
Drums : Lars Sköld

Track List:

01. Cold Seed [3:54]
02. Teonanacatl [4:19]
03. Trillion Zillion Centipedes [1:32]
04. The Desolate One [3:46]
05. Atlantis As A Lover [5:30]
06. Alteration X 10 [5:11]
07. Four Leary Biscuits [4:05]
08. Only In My Tears It Lasts [4:50]
09. The Whores Of Babylon [3:55]
10. Kite [2:04]
11. Phantasma De Luxe [4:59]
12. Mount Marilyn [10:36]
13. A Deeper Kind Of Slumber [5:47]

With the release of Skeleton Skeletron, Tiamat have effectively crossed over. Whereas early efforts such as Clouds and Wildhoney found the Swedish deathsters taking heavy metal in new and exciting directions by integrating elements of electronica and goth rock, their sixth album begs the question: have they gone too far? With its female backing vocals, lead-off single "Brighter than the Sun" sounds too much like Sisters of Mercy for its own good, while "Dust is our Fare" features a synthesizer intro borrowed straight from Bronski Beat's "Small Town Boy." Sure, both songs are excellent and display a biting guitar tone which not even heavier goth-rock bands like the Sisters or Fields of the Nephilim ever attempted, but the results may still be too extreme even for long-time Tiamat fans. Likewise, they may not be able to stomach the band's dull cover of "Sympathy for the Devil" and other pedestrian offerings, such as "Church of Tiamat" and "Best Friend Money can Buy." Neither song ever really gets off the ground, and both are dominated by the monotonous, breathy baritone delivery of singer Johan Edlund. Not surprisingly, other memorable cuts like "For Her Pleasure" and "As Long As You Are Mine" all possess powerful power chords with synthesizers being used in a supporting role. Overall, Skeleton is still more cohesive and concise a statement than 1997's transitional and oftentimes sprawling A Deeper Kind of Slumber, but metal fans should approach with caution nonetheless

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Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards : Johan Edlund
Bass : Anders Iwers
Drums : Lars Sköld

Track List:

01. Church Of Tiamat [4:52]
02. Brighter Than The Sun [4:09]
03. Dust Is Our Fare [5:02]
04. To Have And Have Not [5:09]
05. For Her Pleasure [5:03]
06. Diyala [1:26]
07. Sympathy For The Devil (Rolling Stones Cover) [5:20]
08. Best Friend Money Can Buy [4:36]
09. As Long As You Are Mine [4:40]
10. Lucy [5:18]

Once a black metal band (they're from Sweden) and then a goth metal band when they hit their stride, Tiamat are now just a hokey band singing about love and astrology. And Judas Christ, an attempt at an offensive title (but not a successful one), is an incredibly slow, corny album with lyrics that will make some of their most ardent fans wince. Nobody wants to hear a goth metal band sing about snuggly bunnies, but that doesn't stop Tiamat from rhyming that with "hug me honey" on the hideous "Love Is as Good as Soma." Nearly as bad is "I Am in Love with Myself" or the pathetic anthem "Vote for Love." (The titles say it all.) A lot of these songs sound like Mission U.K. or the Church, but the lyrics are gooier and the music less moving. Tiamat can play their instruments, but here all the songs are overproduced and lack mood, a crucial element in this sort of music. Singer Johan Edlund's last solo record from 2000 under the name Lucyfire was quite good, but Judas Christ is nearly a total loss.

www.metal-archives.com

Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards : Johan Edlund
Guitars : Thomas Petersson
Bass : Anders Iwers
Drums : Lars Sköld

Track List:

01. The Return Of The Son Of Nothing [4:59]
02. So Much For Suicide [4:23]
03. Vote For Love [4:50]
04. The Truth's For Sale [4:40]
05. Fireflower [3:46]
06. Sumer By Night [2:37]
07. Love Is As Good As Soma [6:42]
08. Angel Holograms [3:38]
09. Spine [4:05]
10. I Am In Love With Myself [4:22]
11. Heaven Of High [3:52]
12. Too Far Gone [4:50]

Tiamat mastermind Johan Edlund, on eighth album Prey, continues his obsession with mediocre, synth-driven goth rock, marking a logical progression from the atrocious 2002 effort Judas Christ. In other words, Prey isn't an embarrassment like its predecessor, but it's still a dull, plodding affair, and a distant cry from Tiamat's chilling crossover masterpiece, Wildhoney (which is a Pink Floydian prog-psych-death benchmark in a catalog filled with wide-ranging experimentation). Dominated by big, droning chords, medium to crawling tempos, and Edlund's clean, sub-Andrew Eldritch/Peter Steele croon, Prey drifts in a sea of contrived depression, and any ill-advised stabs at catchy songwriting – "Wings of Heaven," "Carry Your Cross and I'll Carry Mine" – sound clunky and forced. In fact, very little energy is exuded here – uninspired, workmanlike guitars are played like a chore, often secondary to blasé, minor-key keyboard tinkles and whooshes, with Edlund tossing in a few uninspired riffs, as if trying to lure Tiamat worshipers of old back into his increasingly unattractive, eyeliner-clad nest. The tedious Prey is not the return to form that longtime Tiamat fans could have hoped for, Edlund instead searching for an entirely different black-clad audience and stumbling once again, both conceptually and artistically. Disappointing.

www.metal-archives.com

Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars : Johan Edlund
Guitars : Thomas Petersson
Bass : Anders Iwers
Drums : Lars Sköld

Track List:

01. Cain [5:25]
02. Ten Thousand Tentacles [1:35]
03. Wings Of Heaven [4:32]
04. Love In Chains [4:24]
05. Divided [5:19]
06. Carry Your Cross And I’ll Carry Mine [4:37]
07. Triple Cross [1:21]
08. Light In Extintion [4:47]
09. Prey [3:32]
10. The Garden Of Heathen [1:25]
11. Clovenhoof [4:55]
12. Nihil [6:10]
13. The Pentagram [7:21]

Never before released Live audio CD for the first time and exclusively in this box. Sound taken from "The Church of Tiamat DVD". The central piece is a concert played in the Krzemionki TV Studio in Cracow, Poland in January 2005.

Musicians:

Vocals, Guitars : Johan Edlund
Bass : Anders Iwers
Drums : Lars Sköld

Track List:

01. Vote For Love [5:17]
02. Children Of The Underworld [3:48]
03. Cain [5:26]
04. Brighter Than The Sun [4:05]
05. To Have And Have Not [5:56]
06. Whatever That Hurts [5:09]
07. I Am In Love With Myself [3:53]
08. In A Dream [4:17]
09. Wings Of Heaven [4:33]
10. Cold Seed [4:02]
11. Clovenhoof [5:10]
12. As Long As You Are Mine [5:04]
13. Love Is As Good As Soma [6:51]
14. The Sleeping Beauty [4:56]
15. Gaia [7:54]

"Panopticon" - a collection of b-sides and rarities exclusively in this box.

Track List:

01. A Winter Shadow [5:24]
02. Ancient Entity [5:53]
03. Only In My Tears It Lasts (The Cat Mix) [5:25]
04. Three Leary Biscuits [4:18]
05. Brighter Than The Sun (Single Edit) [3:40]
06. Children Of The Underworld [4:51]
07. For Her Pleasure (Edit) [3:45]
08. Lucy (Demon Mix - Remixed By Element & The Short Romans) [4:19]
09. Brighter Than The Sun (Bullsrun Mix - Remixed By Tarsia) [4:50]
10. As Long As You Are Mine (Lodmalm's Cocktail Club A Go-Go Mix) [3:21]
11. Sixshooter [4:07]
12. However You Look At It You Lose [4:09]
13. Vote For Love (Radio Edit) [4:15]
14. Cold Last Supper [3:30]
15. Cain (Radio Edit) [3:57]
16. Sleeping (In The Fire) (W.A.S.P. Cover) [3:44]
17. Divided (Edit) [3:58]










Track List - Live In Poland:

1. Vote For Love - 5:17
2. Children Of The Underworld - 3:48
3. Cain - 5:26
4. Brighter Than The Sun - 4:05
5. To Have And Have Not - 5:56
6. Whatever That Hurts - 5:09
7. I Am In Love With Myself - 3:53
8. In A Dream - 4:17
9. Wings Of Heaven - 4:35
10. Cold Seed - 4:00
11. Clovenhoof - 5:10
12. As Long As You Are Mine - 5:06
13. Love Is As Good As Soma - 7:20
14. The Sleeping Beauty - 5:03
15. Gaia - 7:17

Bonus: The History Of Tiamat

16. Where The Serpents Ever Dwell (Live) - 6:36
17. Whatever That Hurts (Promo Video) - 4:22
18. Gaia (Promo Video) - 3:41
19. Undressed (Live) - 5:54
20. The Ar (Live) - 2:52
21. Alteration X 10 (Recording Session) - 4:31
22. Cold Seed (Promo Video) - 3:50
23. Brighter Than The Sun (Promo Video) - 3:42
24. Vote For Love (Promo Video) - 4:16
25. Phantasma De Luxe (Live) - 5:31
26. Angel Holograms (Live) - 3:37
27. Cain (Promo Video) - 3:57
28. Do You Dream Of Me? (Animated Video) - 3:23