| The Pathway (CD) | 2001 | Displeased |
To my own surprise this album grew on me really quickly. The slightly muffled sound of the first few spins opened up wonderfully melodic death-doom early 90ties style. No overly fancy keyboard parts or female vocals, just good old Death/Doom. Officium Triste relies on the solid foundation of drums, bass and guitars to write songs and does not cover anything up by using novelties. Of course Officum Triste isn't totally free from such elements, they do use a good amount of keys but it is not forced upon the listener. You never have the feeling that the band just used keys for the sake of using them.
On 'The Pathway' OT sounds like a 90ties band stuck in time. Which, if you ask me, is a compliment. As such I believe fans of early Anathema or My Dying Bride will probably like this album. However, don't expect a clone in anyway. Officium Triste does not imitate. It's like you've discovered an album from that era that you've so far overlooked, another innovative early 90ties band, one with a slightly more modern feel.
'The Pathway' does have two downsides; the lyrics and the "clean vocals". I'm hesitating to say it, but the lyrics are in my eyes downright silly. They deal with going into hiding and being stalked. They aren't horribly -Tiamat like- silly, but they just seem out of context. Also it really takes some time to get used to Pim's clean vocals. Luckily he has a strong grunt and uses it most of the album!
This entire album really surprised me. I had not expected it to be so good. I'd recommend it to anybody into heavy slow grinding guitars, muffled grunts/spoken word and atmospheric keys, but newbies would be better of checking the big names first. Shamefully the last track on my promo copy is damaged but I am presuming it is of the same quality as the rest.
1. Roses on my Grave
2. Pathway (of Broken Glass)
3. Foul Play
4. Camouflage
5. Divinity
6. Deep Down
7. This is Goodbye
Approx. 60 minutes
| Roses On My Grave (7"/MCD) | 2001 | Displeased Records |
'Roses On My Grave' is one of OT's strongest songs to date and this version is better than the one that appeared on the album later on. For one, this release has a better production on all aspects than The Pathway. Besides that, this version is still without synths, which this song doesn't need. The song itself may well be the catchiest the band ever wrote. The lyrics are very suitable and not as weird as with some of the band's songs; it has a strong melody line, energetic tempo changes, ranging from headbangin' to a funeral crawl. In short, this belongs among the best the Netherlands have to offer in doom.
The B-side, 'Headstone', was recorded in 1997 and it is a cover of the long-lost UK doom outfit Chorus of Ruin. The song is well known as an OT encore and it fits the band’s sound perfectly. In fact, if it wasn’t for them, this song might be largely forgotten, which would be a shame, as it is worth to be remembered for sure. Classic doom/death all the way.
The 7" isn’t limited and is probably still available through the band and Displeased Records.
1. Roses On My Grave
2. Headstone
Approx. 14 minutes
| Ne Vivam (LP) | 2003 | Badger Records |
The band remastered the album in 2002 and that certainly paid off. One instantly notices the vast improvement in production over the original release and also the second album, The Pathway, which also suffered a bit from its mediocre production. The sound is now very clear, the overall feel is just more… right.
The song 'The Happy Forest' was omitted for this album, which isn't that surprising. The song has always been a bit out of place on Ne Vivam, and the band have themselves pointed out that they weren't content with the way the song had turned out before.
Musically, this album is a lot less catchy than The Pathway. There is more emphasis on heavy riffs, instead of the characteristic guitar and synth melody lines that headline throughout the second album. That makes this release a bit less accessible, but also more attractive to those who favor heaviness over melody. Make no mistake though, this album is totally Officium Triste, and can best be seen as a very relevant part of the band's sound, together with The Pathway. Those two releases taken together define what the band sounds like today, which can best be experienced as a whole on a OT gig, where both albums generally get equal attention.
Basically, this album has everything a good doom/death release needs. A sturdy base of heavy guitars, bass and drums, a healthy dose of melody, some parts you can bang your head to and a solid grunt (in this case Pim's characteristic raspy grunt). This is music with no frills, no pretentiousness, no contrived lyrics; just great plain old metal for those who like theirs served doomy. For some reason I can't exactly put my finger on, Officium Triste always comes across as a completely honest band, artistically, and they always manage to convince me, live or recorded.
Besides all this, I just have to mention the great layout and the attention that was paid to this release. The LP is a gatefold with stylish black on black gothic letters, and that's it! Extremely simple, but also extremely classy! And to top it off, the approximately 500 copies are in five different colours of vinyl. Mine was blue, but there’s also red, yellow and some other stuff, and even one multicolored copy according to the Badger Records website. Highly collectable, and at a standard price, so if you like OT or doom/death in general, don't hesitate to get this one while you still can.
1. Frozen Tears
2. Lonesome
3. A Journey Through Lowlands Green
4. Dreams of Sorrow
5. One With The Sea
6. Stardust
7. Psyche Nullification
Approx. 47 minutes
| Reason (CD) | 2004 | Displeased Records |
The band's third opus is actually all about Reason, as the whole work basically shouts the very relevant question "WHY?". Why do we exist, why all this misery, what is the purpose? The natural negative emotions which pour forth from such a contemplation are distilled into music in a way that is so honest, convincing and overpowering that I was swept away the first time I heard two of the songs live. On the album, this effect is redoubled.
This work is such a leap forward from the last album that I was very much surprised. I expected an improvement of the OT style, what I got was a perfection. The production is grand, heavy and clear; the lyrics are focused and very fitting, the music… crushing, epic, downcast, desperate…
Every second of this dragging, emotionally gripping masterpiece is worth the effort and falls in perfect harmony with the others, until the 42 minutes are through. I'm particularly fond of 'This Inner Twist' and the beautiful 'The Silent Witness', but it's all wonderful.
'Is there a Reason to exist?'. Yes there is. And albums like this are one of the reasons. What better reason is there than experiencing that which is most human: emotion? I'm not talking about the way one feels about what happens in daily life, however bad it all may be for all of us once in a while or, if you're cursed, quite often. I'm talking about what you experience in your mind, the transcendence of those emotions to a spiritual and artistic level. Sit down, put on those headphones, and let Officium Triste take you there, if only for a moment.
Well, there's your Reason for you.
1. In Pouring Rain 2. The Silent Witness 3. This Inner Twist 4. The Sun Doesn’t Shine Anymore 5. A Flower In Decay
Approx. 42 minutes