Format: CD Condition: New Year of Release: 2005 Cat. No.: 604443 Label: Universal
***** Surprisingly melodic gothic metal album By Justin Gaines "Corporate Rocker" (Northern Virginia)
Who says gothic metal bands have to be slow and depressing? Charon proves that they can be upbeat and melodic...and depressing. Of course, Charon is far from the only Finnish band that shows gothic metal doesn't have to be slow and funereal. Sentenced, HIM, and to some extent Amorphis also take a more melodic approach to the genre.
2000's Tearstained is Charon's second full length album. Like HIM, you can get so caught up in the melodies and speedy guitar riffs that you totally overlook the darker lyrical concepts (it just feels wrong for a song titled Deepest Scar to be so upbeat). The guitar riffs are very reminiscent of One Second era Paradise Lost, but you also hear traces of Sentenced and even Therion (see Sorrowbringer and 4 Seasons Rush). The vocalist doesn't do the vampire crooner thing like Ville Vallo, but his voice is definitely a key element of Charon's appeal.
Fans of other gothic metal bands like Sentenced, HIM, Type O Negative, and Paradise Lost should enjoy Charon's melancholy (yet melodic) sound. If you prefer the doomier sounds of My Dying Bride or Theater of Tragedy, this probably isn't the album for you.
TRACK LISTING:
1 Worthless 2 Sorrowbringer 3 Seasons Rush 4 Christina Bleeds 5 Deepest Scar 6 The Drift 7 Sin 8 Holy 9 Your Christ 10 As We Die 11 The Stone
