Before I discovered the wealth of underground music, music as a whole didn't have as much of a purpose to me as it does now. It is not that I'm saying all the mainstream records I bought meant nothing artistically; it's just that the counterculture metal and rock (which is mostly virgin to radio airwaves) which I've discovered lends itself freely to more specific means to an end. It's more individual. For example, when I'm angry I listen to Nile. Tiamat is my most beloved music for nighttime listening. I guess you could say that underground music has made me a more analytical listener.It really is a conundrum even to myself why I like to listen to Tiamat so much at night. Some bands/artists in my collection such as Delerium, Enigma, and Norah Jones are much better suited for the serenity of the day's last hours, but somehow I am drawn to the softly mesmerizing wash of Tiamat's psychedelic essence.
A Deeper Kind of Slumber is my favorite disc to zone out to, but follow-up Skeleton Skeletron is certainly a worthy contender. Less psychedelic and experimental than its predecessor, it still has the sinister, minimal guitar drone; evocative atmosphere; and Johan Edlund's deep, cavernous vocals. This album definitely has more in common with Tiamat's gothic rock influences such as Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy. To blindly call Tiamat gothic rock, however, would be a travesty.
Most of the tracks have a lazy, almost sing-song quality that makes lamentation sound bitter-sweet, but you get the impression that the band can be tongue-in-cheek sometimes. They cover The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil," which is certainly not the best example of seriousness in songwriting.
Tiamat's effectiveness as a band lies in its choices of arrangements. While everyone else is increasing the complexity and urgency of their music, Tiamat continues to use tasteful repetition and modest experimentation to remain relevant players. Their music tends to have effect on you long after you turn it off. It is a nameless allure, but if your soul can be touched it will be.
Tracklisting:
1. Church of Tiamat
2. Brighter than the Sun
3. Dust is Our Fare
4. To Have and Have Not
5. For Her Pleasure
6. Diyala
7. Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones cover)
8. Best Friend Money Can Buy
9. As Long as You Are Mine
10. Lucy