Tribulation - The Formulas of Death (2013)

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Tribulation - The Formulas of Death (2013)

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Swedish death metalers Tribulation have been relatively under the radar since their 2009 debut release The Horror. Their unique hybrid of thrash, death, and black metal set them apart from their competitors, and now they’re back on The Formulas of Death with a dose of prog metal added to the mix. Not guitar noodling prog either – Tribulation try a more melodic approach to death metal, focusing more on interesting chord changes to formulate songs as opposed to a constant barrage of brutal riffage.The album doesn’t really get started until the second track, where Tribulation really show their maturation in sound. Thrash metal isn’t nearly as present on The Formulas of Death; in fact, the production is about the thrashiest part of the album, and although musically some moments of thrash shine through, for the most part its presence is overshadowed by the largely increased progressive influence. Black metal overtones are also more apparent here than on The Horror. Tremolo picked riffs and hauntingly dark progressions are plentiful, and this heavy emphasis on atmosphere really brings out the bleak passages in songs such as ‘Wanderer in the Outer Darkness’ and ‘Through the Velvet Black.’