Well, this is going to be tricky. You see, I’m what people would call an old-fashioned Tribulation fan. Here I am, eating chips and scratching my head, while the band has morphed from a Black Metal outfit into a Goth Rock one. Evidently, I’m a bigger fan of its first era, but I’m open to giving Sub Rosa in Æternum a chance. Goth albums typically fall into two categories: they either evoke the horrors of the night, or end up as cringeworthy festivals of edgy people in leather. Let’s see which one this album turns out to be.
Sub Rosa goes all in on the Goth vibe. I’m honestly surprised this album didn’t drop on Halloween because it’s drenched in that eerie atmosphere. You can easily picture people in costumes dancing around, feeling cool, while the rest of us “less fun” types look at them sideways, not quite getting the lore. Either way, Sub Rosa is entertaining and keeps you engaged for its entire 40-minute runtime, maintaining an excellent pace without dragging. Tribulation is still a band that gets straight to the point, and I doubt we’ll hear a Prog album from them anytime soon.
The textures here are the stars of the show. Catchy choruses, like in “Poison Pages”, pop up all over the place, with warm, retro guitar and bass tones, while the vocals play with impressive range. The drums are thick but sit behind the other instruments, letting the melodies shine. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Goth album without heavy doses of synths—so yes, my vampire child, you get plenty of those. If Ghost was actually a Metal band, it might sound something like Sub Rosa. Do with that what you will.
As groovy and digestible as this album is, I can’t help feeling that Tribulation has done this before in a more thrilling way. I’m sure Sub Rosa will attract plenty of new fans, but if you’re hoping for more complexity, layers, or innovation, you might be disappointed by how much of a traditional Rock band Tribulation has started to feel like. Imagine if Type O Negative could write non-gimmicky songs (oh, did I offend someone? Deal with it!). That’s the vibe here, and I’m not sure I’m fully on board just yet.
Still, this is a fun, spooky release that fits the season perfectly. I wouldn’t call it mind-blowing, but it has its time and place in the dead hearts of fans. For those deeply invested in all things gothic, this album will be everything you wanted and more. But for those of us who believe in more fashion choices than black, Sub Rosa might pass through without leaving a huge impression. I need to review some Brutal Death Metal after this to regain my edge! Until next time.
Label: Century Media Records
Release date: 1 November, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TribulationSweden
Country: Sweden
Score: A 3.0/5.0 wrapped in leather
Metal Eclipse Reviews 