Description
Tribulation – Where The Gloom Becomes Sound – Bone White And Black Melt Vinyl Record
Released on January 29, 2021 via Century Media Records, Where the Gloom Becomes Sound is the fifth studio album by Swedish band Tribulation. Over the course of their career, Tribulation have evolved from their death metal origins into one of the most distinctive voices in modern metal, blending gothic atmosphere, classic heavy metal, and dark rock into something entirely their own. With this album, they refined their aesthetic even further, crafting a record that is as brooding and melancholic as it is melodic and commanding.
Produced by Jamie Elton and mixed by Jens Bogren (known for his work with Opeth, Katatonia, and Amon Amarth), the album has a rich, cinematic sound that enhances Tribulation’s gothic leanings without sacrificing the bite of their riffs. The title itself, Where the Gloom Becomes Sound, comes from the writings of Swedish dramatist August Strindberg, reflecting the band’s fascination with turning emotion, atmosphere, and occult imagery into music.
The lineup for this album featured:
Johannes Andersson – vocals, bass
Adam Zaars – guitars
Jonathan Hultén – guitars (his final appearance with the band before his departure in late 2020)
Oscar Leander – drums
The album opens with “In Remembrance,” a stately track built on soaring guitar melodies and Andersson’s cavernous vocals, immediately signaling Tribulation’s balance of grandeur and gloom.
Other standout tracks include:
“Hour of the Wolf” – one of the album’s most direct and anthemic songs, pairing galloping riffs with gothic atmosphere. It was released as a single and remains a live favorite.
“Leviathans” – dramatic and melodic, weaving haunting leads with a sense of mythic grandeur.
“Dirge of a Dying Soul” – slow and crushing, with a funereal atmosphere that showcases the band’s doomier side.
“Daughter of the Djinn” – mystical and dynamic, blending eerie melody with driving rhythm.
“Inanna” – one of the most atmospheric pieces, drawing on mythology while layering shimmering guitar textures.
“Funeral Pyre” – intense and riff-heavy, channeling more of the band’s death metal roots within their evolved sound.
“The Wilderness” – closing the album with a sprawling, cinematic scope, it leaves the listener suspended in the gothic world Tribulation conjures.
The record is built on gothic melodicism, with guitars carrying much of the emotional weight through sweeping harmonies and intricate leads. Andersson’s harsh vocals add grit and darkness, contrasting with the almost romantic instrumentation. Unlike their early death metal records (The Horror, 2009), the band here embraces atmosphere as much as aggression, creating songs that are heavy yet strangely beautiful.
Where the Gloom Becomes Sound was praised as one of Tribulation’s strongest and most mature works. Reviewers noted its blend of accessibility and depth—catchy enough for fans of gothic rock or traditional heavy metal, but layered with enough complexity for listeners steeped in extreme metal. The album won Best Hard Rock/Metal Album at the 2021 Swedish Grammis Awards, affirming its impact both at home and internationally.
Where the Gloom Becomes Sound solidified Tribulation’s reputation as one of the most exciting bands in contemporary metal. It stands as both a culmination of their stylistic evolution and a launchpad for future directions, marrying death metal intensity with gothic elegance. For fans of bands like Paradise Lost, Opeth, or Sisters of Mercy, this record offers a uniquely haunting experience—proof that heavy music can be as atmospheric and beautiful as it is crushing.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
In Remembrance
Hour Of The Wolf
Leviathans
Dirge Of A Dying Soul
Lethe
Daughter Of The Djinn
Elementals
Inanna
Funeral Pyre
The Wilderness
