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Theatre Of Tragedy - Velvet Darkness They Fear



8.6 | 399 votes |
Release date: 25 September 1996
Style: Gothic metal

Owners:

568 have it
50 want it


01. Velvet Darkness They Fear
02. Fair And 'Guilding Copesmate Death
03. Bring Forth Ye Shadow
04. Seraphic Deviltry
05. And When He Falleth
    1 - Dialogue From "And When He Falleth"
06. Der Tanz Der Schatten
07. Black As The Devil Painteth
08. On Whom The Moon Doth Shine
09. The Masquerader And Phoenix

Top 20 albums of 1996: 10

Additional info
All songs written by Theatre Of Tragedy.
Produced by Pete Coleman.
Engineered by Gerhard Magin.
Recorded and mixed at Commusication Studios, Germany.

"A Rose for the Dead" is the bonus track for the japanese edition.

Re-released by Century Media in 26/08/1997.
"A Rose for the Dead" & "And when He Falleth (remix)" are bonus tracks for the brazilian edition.

Lineup:
Raymond I. Rohonyi - Vocals
Liv Kristine Espences - Soprano
Geir Flikkeid - Guitars
Tommy Lindal - Guitars
Eirik T.Saltro - Bass
Hein Frode Hansen - Drums
Lorentz Aspen - Piano, Synth

Guest review by
Ernis
Rating:
8.1
The following review concerns Velvet Darkness They Fear, the second album of the Norwegian Gothic ensemble Theatre Of Tragedy, released one year after their wonderful eponymous debut album. Velvet Darkness They Fear is a fine and strong continuation of the style the musicians brought to audiences with their first release, emotional and graceful songs in an atmosphere of doom and Gothic styles. Theatre Of Tragedy's sound is genuine, clearly distinctive from their colleagues of Tristania and Sirenia and more centered around mellow melancholy, in some ways more similar to My Dying Bride.

Read more ››
published 13.06.2009 | Comments (13)

Found in 34 lists
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Comments

Comments: 24   Visited by: 741 users
10.06.2011 - 15:21
garmling
Account deleted
Best ever Beauty and the Beast style of Gothic Doom Metal!!!
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14.09.2011 - 03:49
Rating: 10
FELIX42

I agree...a masterpiece....
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28.04.2012 - 12:15
Bloody_Kisses
Account deleted
The best album I have ever heard!!!
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19.06.2012 - 22:04
Rating: 10
Vonpire

Where's the 11 to rate?
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Beware the Shadows of Dusk
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14.12.2012 - 15:17
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Good album, maybe not such memorable classic how 1th one but still brilian masterpiece, lil ''softer'' I dont wanna say 1th was extreme metal growls, but it was not possible understand what they sing whit out lyrics, here you can hear worlds properly and its good
I like song in german Der Tanz Der Schatten it was awesome, same like song
And When He Falleth and part Dialogue From "And When He Falleth
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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14.12.2012 - 21:49
Rating: 9
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by Bad English on 14.12.2012 at 15:17

Good album, maybe not such memorable classic how 1th one but still brilian masterpiece, lil ''softer'' I dont wanna say 1th was extreme metal growls, but it was not possible understand what they sing whit out lyrics, here you can hear worlds properly and its good
I like song in german Der Tanz Der Schatten it was awesome, same like song
And When He Falleth and part Dialogue From "And When He Falleth


I disagree, this is to me far more memorable and the songwriting is sharper and with more thought. The production is clearer but certainly doesn't make it a softer album. For example the song On Whom The Moon Doth Shine could even have been done by My Dying Bride back in their old "turn loose the swans" days if you take out the female vocals. It has more "doomy" moments than ToT's debut.

The different in quality isn't that much though, I really like their debut (just listened to it today) but I just think this one has more depth behind it and everything got a little bit better: the production, the vocals, the riffs, etc.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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14.12.2012 - 22:55
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.12.2012 at 21:49

Written by Bad English on 14.12.2012 at 15:17

Good album, maybe not such memorable classic how 1th one but still brilian masterpiece, lil ''softer'' I dont wanna say 1th was extreme metal growls, but it was not possible understand what they sing whit out lyrics, here you can hear worlds properly and its good
I like song in german Der Tanz Der Schatten it was awesome, same like song
And When He Falleth and part Dialogue From "And When He Falleth


I disagree, this is to me far more memorable and the songwriting is sharper and with more thought. The production is clearer but certainly doesn't make it a softer album. For example the song On Whom The Moon Doth Shine could even have been done by My Dying Bride back in their old "turn loose the swans" days if you take out the female vocals. It has more "doomy" moments than ToT's debut.

The different in quality isn't that much though, I really like their debut (just listened to it today) but I just think this one has more depth behind it and everything got a little bit better: the production, the vocals, the riffs, etc.


I mean ''softer'' not softer, and its well I agree whit you about MDB, but what I mean you can understand what they sing about whit out ltrics, but sil last good album from the band
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
18.12.2012 - 14:59
Rating: 9
Erik M.

Definitely the best ToT album, destroys their debut as well as Aegis easily. It's also one of the best beauty and the beast albums I've ever heard, with great male and female vocals.
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18.12.2012 - 15:06
Rating: 9
Erik M.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.12.2012 at 21:49

I disagree, this is to me far more memorable and the songwriting is sharper and with more thought. The production is clearer but certainly doesn't make it a softer album. For example the song On Whom The Moon Doth Shine could even have been done by My Dying Bride back in their old "turn loose the swans" days if you take out the female vocals. It has more "doomy" moments than ToT's debut.

The different in quality isn't that much though, I really like their debut (just listened to it today) but I just think this one has more depth behind it and everything got a little bit better: the production, the vocals, the riffs, etc.


I agree. As I said before, their debut is great, but (as you said, and I suspected) this album definitely improves upon it in basically every way... too bad they didn't continue making this kind of music.
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22.07.2015 - 18:36
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Erik M. on 18.12.2012 at 14:59

Definitely the best ToT album, destroys their debut as well as Aegis easily. It's also one of the best beauty and the beast albums I've ever heard, with great male and female vocals.


I wll disagree its better as 1th one, but its equal, great and I would say underrated album , I like it
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
12.09.2016 - 03:50
Rating: 10
VaronoZz
Vampbaron
I had this inspiration of taking this original album which I have in my old collection and put it in my car to listen to it during a long lonely journey after midnight. I do not listen to metal as much as in the past anymore but when I started listening to this again after a few years, I simply traveled back in time again, remembered the old good times when I was traveling even further back in time, centuries back. Brilliant, beautiful music which woke up memories. Apparently, I rated this album some years ago with a 10. Well, I could not have been wiser in making this choice. I see me sticking to this album and their other two of their early era for a long long time!
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give praise for the blood it bled,
grant a rose for the dead...
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31.03.2019 - 20:42
Feral Berry

Extremely colorless and unvaried album with lazy and monotonous songs. Boring to death. Started to yawn during the third song, dozed off during the fifth one and fell asleep to the end.
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01.04.2019 - 16:11
Rating: 6
Starvynth
i c deaf people
Written by Feral Berry on 31.03.2019 at 20:42

Extremely colorless and unvaried album with lazy and monotonous songs. Boring to death. Started to yawn during the third song, dozed off during the fifth one and fell asleep to the end.

That's a bold statement and your 2/10 rating is a gutsy one.
While I really do appreciate that someone finally has the balls guts to pinpoint the shortcomings of this so-called prime example of gothic metal, I really have to wonder that you seem to love Aégis.
Because that's what I consider to be one of the most efficient substitutes for barbiturates ever recorded.

@Bad English: dude, please overthink your comment 'Der Tanz Der Schatten it was awesome'.
Without a shadow of a doubt, it's the most embarrassing gothic metal track with german lyrics of all time. Listen to that 'Ich liebe dich...' part and be assured that your testicles will immediately shrink to pea size. I had to experience it myself many years ago and I have never fully recovered.
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signatures = SPAM
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02.04.2019 - 00:30
Rating: 8
Redel

Written by Starvynth on 01.04.2019 at 16:11

Written by Feral Berry on 31.03.2019 at 20:42

Extremely colorless and unvaried album with lazy and monotonous songs. Boring to death. Started to yawn during the third song, dozed off during the fifth one and fell asleep to the end.

That's a bold statement and your 2/10 rating is a gutsy one.
While I really do appreciate that someone finally has the balls guts to pinpoint the shortcomings of this so-called prime example of gothic metal, I really have to wonder that you seem to love Aégis.
Because that's what I consider to be one of the most efficient substitutes for barbiturates ever recorded.

@Bad English: dude, please overthink your comment 'Der Tanz Der Schatten it was awesome'.
Without a shadow of a doubt, it's the most embarrassing gothic metal track with german lyrics of all time. Listen to that 'Ich liebe dich...' part and be assured that your testicles will immediately shrink to pea size. I had to experience it myself many years ago and I have never fully recovered.


Beautiful album.
I fail to see the shortcomings here.
In particular, how the above statement is supposed to "pinpoint the shortcomings of this so-called prime example of gothic metal" is beyond me.
"Extremely colorless and unvaried album with lazy and monotonous songs. Boring to death."
This album is full of variation.
Take a look at the lineup:
Male vocals, soprano, guitars, bass, drums, piano, synths.
Male and female Vocals interact continously, pace varies within most of the songs, piano interludes mixed in, even passages of spoken text.
How you can call this "unvaried" is beyond me.
"Boring to death." If the albums bores you, fair enough. But is this a shortcoming?

Standing out:
Fair And 'Guilding Copesmate Death
And When He Falleth
Black As The Devil Painteth

Der Tanz der Schatten though--here I agree-- is pretty awful.

That said, their debut is even better than this album imo.
Aégis--by the way-- is a nice album, too. Different from the other two, and also full of variation.
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02.04.2019 - 03:54
Rating: 6
Starvynth
i c deaf people
Written by Redel on 02.04.2019 at 00:30

Written by Starvynth on 01.04.2019 at 16:11

That's a bold statement and your 2/10 rating is a gutsy one.
While I really do appreciate that someone finally has the balls guts to pinpoint the shortcomings of this so-called prime example of gothic metal, I really have to wonder that you seem to love Aégis.
Because that's what I consider to be one of the most efficient substitutes for barbiturates ever recorded.

@Bad English: dude, please overthink your comment 'Der Tanz Der Schatten it was awesome'.
Without a shadow of a doubt, it's the most embarrassing gothic metal track with german lyrics of all time. Listen to that 'Ich liebe dich...' part and be assured that your testicles will immediately shrink to pea size. I had to experience it myself many years ago and I have never fully recovered.


Beautiful album.
I fail to see the shortcomings here.
In particular, how the above statement is supposed to "pinpoint the shortcomings of this so-called prime example of gothic metal" is beyond me.
"Extremely colorless and unvaried album with lazy and monotonous songs. Boring to death."
This album is full of variation.
Take a look at the lineup:
Male vocals, soprano, guitars, bass, drums, piano, synths.
Male and female Vocals interact continously, pace varies within most of the songs, piano interludes mixed in, even passages of spoken text.
How you can call this "unvaried" is beyond me.
"Boring to death." If the albums bores you, fair enough. But is this a shortcoming?

Standing out:
Fair And 'Guilding Copesmate Death
And When He Falleth
Black As The Devil Painteth

Der Tanz der Schatten though--here I agree-- is pretty awful.

That said, their debut is even better than this album imo.
Aégis--by the way-- is a nice album, too. Different from the other two, and also full of variation.

You do know I appreciate your comments. I always do. You're a nice guy.
But that's the crux of the matter: you're a guy. Get it?
Man, I even confessed to suffering from testicular atrophy just for the sake of a cheap pity ploy...

How low do you want me to go yet?




Yes, I have listened to Velvet Darkness They Fear, Theatre Of Tragedy and Aégis - but that was 20 years ago.
I remember that I once liked 'And When He Falleth' - but that was also 20 years ago.
Exploring the most remote parts of my subconsciousness I might still remember the very moment I still thought that 'beauty and the beast' gothic metal was a great idea - but I guess that was also 20 years ago...

Okay, maybe I was wrong to say 'to pinpoint the shortcomings...' but cross out 'the' and you get what I wanted to say. There are some shortcomings, I'm very sure there are, as ToT couldn't impress me at all when I was still quite deep into this kind of music.

You may describe all the colorful details of this recording: Liv Kristine's soprano, Raymond's growls, Tommy's guitars, Geir's infamous e-bow to improve his guitar sound, some other guys' skills on piano, bass and drums, some synths and spoken passages somewhere. All these things are true. Maybe they even did feature a domesticated Llama in their ranks and I missed out it was beatboxing a fancy chorus somewhere, I don't know.
But I do know one thing for sure: at the end of the day I thought this album was nothing very special.

It's like pea soup. Add some variety (very small peas and extraordinarily big peas) and some colour (yellow peas) but it will never cease tasting like what it still is - pea soup.

Plain and simple, this album didn't meet my individual taste and also Aégis and their s/t debut bored me to death.
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signatures = SPAM
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02.04.2019 - 21:22
Rating: 8
Redel

Written by Starvynth on 02.04.2019 at 03:54

Yes, I have listened to Velvet Darkness They Fear, Theatre Of Tragedy and Aégis - but that was 20 years ago.
I remember that I once liked 'And When He Falleth' - but that was also 20 years ago.
Exploring the most remote parts of my subconsciousness I might still remember the very moment I still thought that 'beauty and the beast' gothic metal was a great idea - but I guess that was also 20 years ago...

Okay, maybe I was wrong to say 'to pinpoint the shortcomings...' but cross out 'the' and you get what I wanted to say. There are some shortcomings, I'm very sure there are, as ToT couldn't impress me at all when I was still quite deep into this kind of music.

You may describe all the colorful details of this recording: Liv Kristine's soprano, Raymond's growls, Tommy's guitars, Geir's infamous e-bow to improve his guitar sound, some other guys' skills on piano, bass and drums, some synths and spoken passages somewhere. All these things are true. Maybe they even did feature a domesticated Llama in their ranks and I missed out it was beatboxing a fancy chorus somewhere, I don't know.
But I do know one thing for sure: at the end of the day I thought this album was nothing very special.

It's like pea soup. Add some variety (very small peas and extraordinarily big peas) and some colour (yellow peas) but it will never cease tasting like what it still is - pea soup.

Plain and simple, this album didn't meet my individual taste and also Aégis and their s/t debut bored me to death.


I did not intend to make you eat your pea soups, which you dont like.
And I did not mean to put anything into your pea soup just for the sake of making you eat it.

All I wanted to address with my comment was one thing.
Saying that this comment:
"Extremely colorless and unvaried album with lazy and monotonous songs. Boring to death."
is an indicator for having the guts to
"pinpoint the shortcomings of this so-called prime example of gothic metal"
praises the content of a comment that I claim to be pointless and inadequate in the context of the album at hand.

I guess that was all.
Not about the merits of Beauty and the Beast Metal in general, or anything related.
We have other music in common to chat about. Lets go on over there.
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03.04.2019 - 15:13
Rating: 6
Starvynth
i c deaf people
Written by Redel on 02.04.2019 at 21:22

We have other music in common to chat about. Lets go on over there.


Absolutely!
After all, some Russian beauty has upvoted my post. That's all I ever wanted.
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signatures = SPAM
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03.04.2019 - 22:37
Rating: 8
Redel

Written by Starvynth on 03.04.2019 at 15:13

After all, some Russian beauty has upvoted my post. That's all I ever wanted.

Do you want me to upvote your post, too?
Ah no, I guess not because I am not a beauty.
And I am not Russian...
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03.04.2019 - 23:17
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Written by Starvynth on 03.04.2019 at 15:13

Written by Redel on 02.04.2019 at 21:22

We have other music in common to chat about. Lets go on over there.


Absolutely!
After all, some Russian beauty has upvoted my post. That's all I ever wanted.

But there are no women on the internet. Just guys pretending to be women so you give them free stuff.
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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05.04.2019 - 20:18
Rating: 6
Starvynth
i c deaf people
Written by RaduP on 03.04.2019 at 23:17

Written by Starvynth on 03.04.2019 at 15:13

After all, some Russian beauty has upvoted my post. That's all I ever wanted.

But there are no women on the internet. Just guys pretending to be women so you give them free stuff.

My future wife... ...she doesn't like you!
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signatures = SPAM
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05.04.2019 - 20:56
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Written by Starvynth on 05.04.2019 at 20:18

My future wife... ...she doesn't like you!

3D women are overrated. 2D anime waifus is where it's at.
----
Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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31.01.2020 - 19:21
Rating: 7
Dark Horizons

Good album, with very nice moments, but boring moments too...
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We are just a moment in time
A blink of an eye
A dream for the blind
Visions from a dying brain
I hope you don't understand
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18.11.2021 - 10:07
JoHn Doe

Listening to this right now, after long long time, forgot how great this was, takes me back to simpler better times.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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24.11.2023 - 02:49
This album is the very first thing that comes to mind when I think of "Beauty and the Beast". An incredible album that I always find myself going back to time and time again.
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