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In Our Eye on LP

Tystnaden doesn't quite fit the mold. You see, they're an Italian band, but Tystnaden is a Swedish word, and it means something like "Quiet". And Tystnaden is anything but quiet.

In Our Eye is the second major release for the band. And it doesn't exactly sound like other Italian bands, gothic or otherwise. Italian bands have a certain melodic quality to them, the lyrics tend to be softer, the message less intense. Think bands like Evenoire or Sky Lark reviewed on this site, or Rhapsody of Fire, another similar band that fits that description. Tystnaden, on the other hand, plays hard music with a hard message, more in line with the Scandinavian heavy metal of a Tristania, Tarot or Sinergy. It's a B and B sound where the vocals are carried by the sultry Laura de Luca against the harsh death metal sounds of Lorenzo Frascaroli. Additional musicians include Cesare Codispoti on guitars, Federico Grassi on guitars, Arthur Sahakjan on bass and Alberto Iezzi on drums. Frascaroli also handles keyboards.

There is a certain consistency to the music here, and some have complained that there is too little diversification to that sound. I'm not sure I agree. There is the male / female interplay, somewhat in the mode of other Italian bands like Lacuna Coil and Chaoswave. But I would argue that there is a significant difference between the vocal styles of Tystnaden and those other bands. de Luca is not an operatic vocal, not even close. Her sound is generally hard, but pleasant, she has a fine voice, she just chooses to sing with a heavy metal sound on most numbers. This isn't the typical symphonic metal, although there is a symphonic component within most of the tracks. There are, however, variations. Subterranean Gates begins with a lovely vocal track that takes the music in a softer direction, it just doesn't last. These variations, especially at the beginning of a song, are more pronounced in the following selection Letters from Silent Heaven where it appears we are hearing de Luca humming a song in the shower. Again, the softness fades as the songstress charges into the number, carrying it to the death vocals that trade off the lead.

It should be pointed out that one of the strong points of the work is the physical production. Technically, this work is superb, individual sounds are distinct, lyrics can be comprehended, each individual instrument is captured perfectly. And, with some of the strong guitar work on this CD, that is a definite plus. Italians seem to provide some of the most technically interesting and breathtakingly beautiful guitar work of any group in the genre. This is especially true of numbers like Fragile, a softer selection where de Luca's vocals are paired with a soft guitar line in a haunting gloom metal selection. Fragile proves to be one of the more interesting selections on the CD, the music is technically interesting, the vocals lovely, and the message pure gothic.

Tystnaden, however, is a hard metal band; although they refer to themselves as a melodic death metal band. This sound may be best appreciated in the following selection, Born From a Wish. Here, the band cuts loose with the death metal vocal introducing the track and giving way to the female lead. de Luca has some interesting sounds on this title. It is here that we truly hear the "melodic" part of the music. It's a capability that is, unfortunately, not captured enough throughout the LP. Lyrically, Born from a Wish also captures the gothic message. There is certain harshness to the Tystnaden music, both in tone and in message. This is not happy music; it looks at life and sees the ugly, the hate, the fear. Greed carries this message over a guitar based musical line. Pressed on 180 gram opaque Blue Jay vinyl.