TRAIL OF TEARS - Free Fall Into Fear

"Free Fall Into Fear" by Trail Of Tears is dark journey into the the realms of black, power and gothic metal. With the departure of Cathrine Paulsen, the vocals are now strictly male going between clean, death growls and black metal shrieks.

Musically, Trail Of Tears benefits from a strong production which allows the individual musicians room to have quiet parts alongside punishing interludes without the disc losing continuity. "Drink Away The Demons" is one menacing track that stands out within the overall context of the disc breaching apparently personal subject matter. The guitars on this track are absolutely brutal and are borderline power metal at times.

Trail Of Tears may not be my favorite album of 2005 but is nonetheless a diverse trip into the belly of various disturbed beasts that would be better left alone.