Trail of Tears (band) 2945791 222720236 2008-06-30T19:56:19Z Backtable 4118222 Why those dashes? {{Refimprove|date=March 2008}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | Name = Trail of Tears | Img = | Img_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels --> | Landscape = | Background = group_or_band | Origin = [[Kristiansand]], [[Norway]] | Genre = [[Gothic metal]]<br />[[Symphonic black metal]] | Years_active = 1994-present | Label = [[Napalm Records|Napalm]] | URL = [http://www.trailoftears.no/ www.trailoftears.no/] | Current_members = Ronny Thorsen<br />Cathrine Paulsen<br />Bjørn Erik Næss<br />Pål Olsen<br />Endre Moe<br />Cato Jensen | Past_members = ([[#Former members|see below]]) }} '''Trail of Tears''' is a [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[Gothic metal|Gothic]]/[[symphonic black metal]] band originally formed in 1994 under the name of ''Natt''. Through most of their career the band emphasised the use of contrasting [[soprano]] and [[death grunt]] vocals, but with the release of ''Free Fall into Fear'' in 2005, the band switched this contrast mostly to [[tenor]] and death growls, with rare soprano passages. ==History== Formed in 1994, the band's initial name was ''Natt'', but in 1997 their name was switched to Trail of Tears, in order to reflect the evolution of their sound and the changes that had been made from their initial line-up. The first [[demo (music)|demo]] the band recorded was ''When Silence Cries...'', which contained three tracks and was released in April 1997. Guitarist Michael Krumins left the band and was replaced by Runar Hansen shortly thereafter. The release of the demo lead the band to sign a contract for two [[album]]s with [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[recording label|label]] [[DSFA Records]]. Their debut — ''[[Disclosure in Red]]'' — was released in that same year, and touring through [[Europe]] followed, alongside [[Tristania (band)|Tristania]] and [[The Sins of Thy Beloved]]. Their second album, ''[[Profoundemonium]]'', was released in 2000, and female vocalist Helena Iren Michaelsen left the band soon after, being replaced by Cathrine Paulsen in May of that year. The band proceeded to play in Europe several times during 2000. In the following year they signed a three-album deal with [[Napalm Records]]. Their third release was entitled ''[[A New Dimension of Might]]'' and was produced by [[Terje Refsnes]] (producer of [[Tristania (band)|Tristania]], [[Sirenia]] and [[Green Carnation]]), and was released in 2002. 2003 marked the band's first international concert, in [[Mexico]]. Female vocalist Catherine Paulsen left the band, and male vocalist Kjetil Nordhus ([[Green Carnation]]) joined Trail of Tears. This move prompted several changes in the band's sound, ultimately resulting in the 2004 album ''[[Free Fall into Fear]]'', which was markedly heavier than their previous albums. A tour with Tristania and [[Therion (band)|Therion]] followed the album's release. Long term band members Terje Heiseldal and Frank Roald Hagen departed before the recording of the band's fifth album, with [[Gøran Bomann]] of [[Carpathian Forest]] standing in as a session live guitarist. The album was recorded as a five-piece with Runar Hansen recording all guitars and Bernt Moen being brought in as a guest musician to play [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]. Kjetil Nordhus, Runar Hansen, Kjell Rune Hagen, and Jonathan Perez walked out in November 2006 due to bad organisation leading to monetary loss for all the members of the band and posted a statement on the Trail of Tears' website saying the band had split up. Ronny Thorsen soon issued a statement saying they would in fact be carrying on without them and that they couldn't have chosen a worse time to leave the band due to the upcoming tour for the album [[Existentia]]. He also claims to have offered to pay them the money they lost from his own funds, but they did not accept. All tour dates had to be canceled. On [[February 1]], [[2007]] it has been stated that former Trail of Tears vocalist Cathrine Paulsen has re-joined the band. The band was also confirmed for 2007's [[Sweden Rock Festival]].<ref>[http://www.metalstorm.ee/events/news_comments.php?news_id=4178 Trail Of Tears - Former Vocalist Rejoins The Band - Metal Storm<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Line-up== ===Current members=== * [[Ronny Thorsen]] − [[Singer|Vocals]] (1994-present) * [[Cathrine Paulsen]] − [[Soprano]] vocals (2000-2004, 2007-present) * [[Bjørn Erik Næss]] − [[Electric guitar|Guitars]] (2007-present) * [[Pål Olsen]] − [[Electric guitar|Guitars]] (2007-present) * [[Endre Moe]] − [[Bass guitar]] (2007-present) * [[Cato Jensen]] − [[Drum kit|Drums]] (2007-present) ===Former members=== * [[Kjetil Nordhus]] − Vocals (2003-2006, previously a session member) * [[Ales Vik]] − Soprano vocals (1994-1997) * Helena Iren Michaelsen − Soprano vocals (1997-2000) * [[Michael Krumins]] − [[Lead guitar]] (1997) * [[Runar Hansen]] − Lead guitar (1997-2006) * [[Terje Heiseldal]] − [[Rhythm guitar]] (1997-2005) * [[Kjell Rune Hagen]] − Bass guitar (1997-2006) * [[Frank Roald Hagen]] − [[Synthesizer]]s (1997-2006) * [[Vidar Uleberg]] − Drums (1994-1997) * [[Jonathan Perez]] − Drums (1997-2006) == Discography == ===Albums=== * ''[[Disclosure in Red]]'' (1998) * ''[[Profoundemonium]]'' (2000) * ''[[A New Dimension of Might]]'' (2002) * ''[[Free Fall into Fear]]'' (2005) * ''[[Existentia]]'' (2007) ===Demos=== ====As Natt==== * ''[[Natt]]'' (1996) ====As Trail of Tears==== * ''[[When Silence Cries...]]'' (1997) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.trailoftears.no/ Trail of Tears official website] * [http://www.myspace.com/trailoftearsmetal Trail of Tears] at [[MySpace]] * [http://www.napalmrecords.com/promo/totp.html Trail of Tears] at [[Napalm Records]] * [http://www.napalmrecords.com/tothistoryfeat.html Trail of Tears history at Napalm Records] * [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1236 Trail of Tears] at [[Encyclopaedia Metallum]] * [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=82541 Encyclopaedia Metallum - Natt (Nor)] * [http://www.djpdjp.nl/news.php?extend.372 An interview with Ronny Thorsen @ ME Metalhour] [[Category:Norwegian heavy metal musical groups]] [[Category:Norwegian black metal musical groups]] [[Category:Gothic metal musical groups]] [[Category:Symphonic black metal musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1994]] [[de:Trail of Tears (Band)]] [[fr:Trail of Tears]] [[hr:Trail of Tears]] [[it:Trail of Tears]] [[no:Trail of Tears]] [[pt:Trail of Tears]]