Tristania "Ashes"

Ashes is the fourth full-length album by the Norwegian band Tristania. The album registers a change in the band's musical style, leaving out the choirs and initiating a heavier sound, with a focus on darker lyrics and the pure vocals of Vibeke Stene. This album is the only one Kjetil Ingebrethsen performed harsh vocals on.

Track listing

All music and lyrics by Tristania, except where noted.

1. "Libre" – 4:30 (lyrics by Kjartan Hermansen)
2. "Equilibrium" – 5:49
3. "The Wretched" – 7:00 (lyrics by Hermansen)
4. "Cure" – 5:59
5. "Circus" – 5:09 (lyrics by Hermansen)
6. "Shadowman" – 6:31
7. "The Gate" – 6:45 (digipak bonus track)
8. "Endogenisis" – 7:37
9. "Bird" – 5:09 (digipak/jewel case bonus track)

The first Ashes edition only contained 7 songs.

Special Enhanced North American Edition includes the videoclip of "Equilibrium", both bonus tracks and an alternative cover with Vibeke on it.

Japanese Edition also includes both bonus tracks.

Kjartan Hermansen was Tristania's webmaster at that time.

A video was made for "Equilibrium", for which the song was slightly edited, and the verses were reversed (the second verse is heard first).

Lyrics of "The Wretched" partly based on Kjartan Hermansen's poem "Ascending: Descending".

Recording information:

Recorded between April and June, and in October 2004, in TopRoom Studio, Lunner, Norway, cello recorded at Fagerborg Studio.

Produced and mixed by Tristania and Børge Finstad.