Rating: 9/10
Release: 11 October 2024
Label: Echozone

After 23 years from the first release, the five dark rock band Thanateros is back with their new album “Trance forming”. This new album contains 12 new songs that sounds like a more impressive continuation of the first album. Even the title is a good word play between “trance” as in the shamanic trance in which the practitioner goes to get in touch with another dimension, and “transformation”, that includes changes and transition that everyone faces in different way.
Musically, this new album begins with “Anrufung”, a 1:30 song that sets the mood of the whole album. There are a few songs that stand out: “Shapeshifter” that has a kinda” trance” pattern on the instrumental part; “I Hold You”, a powerful ballad that reminds me bands like Blind Guardian (“The Bard’s Song”) and Moonspell (“Vampiria”); “Raise Your Voices”, that can be considered a good, epic hymn to a battle, with a good instrumental part that entices you to march into battle; “The Banshees Of Kealkil”, that’s the most celtic-like song of this album, with a remind to the celtic witch (the banshees) with the female voice in the song; “Feel The Fire (Goddess 24)”, with a dedication to various Goddess and the “trance” pattern; “By The Wind”, the last song, the only acoustic one that ends the album with the sound of the wind.
This album mark the return to a folky, Irish-Celtic sound that can be seen in the melodies of the 12 new songs, that has the typical violin and whistle. The shamanic sound and the ritual rhythms receive more attention through this album, with the sound of frame drum, shakers and bone rattles. The instrumental framework is made by the guitars that are very hard and heavy, a bass that can be considered driving, and the drums that sometimes can be very powerful, and also the violin is a great part of the album with its sound, so virtuoso. Ben Richter’s diverse, melodic voice, is a blessing for “Tranceforming”. In fact, his voice can brilliantly convey the various emotions of all the songs.
This album, in conclusion, shows a wide musical range without Thanateros straying out their typical music style. “Tranceforming” can be considered a mileston in Thanateros’ productions because of its powerful, balanced and harmonious production that shows the greatness of this band.

Tracklist

1. Anrufung
2. The Horned One
3. Everything Decays
4. Shapeshifter
5. I Hold You
6. Raise Your Voices
7. Hagazussa
8. The Banshees Of Kealkil
9. Feel The Fire (Goddess 24)
10. I Am All
11. Runir
12. By The Wind