Tiamat set the bar high since 1987 for all passionate lovers of erotic, dark metal. Hailing from the municipality of Tabu, Stockholm, the band pioneered the Swedish death metal sound, only to evolve in among the greatest gothic metal acts of the past decades. According to the Babylonian epic of creation, “Enūma Eliš”, Tiamat is a primordial goddess and ruler of the sea. She is frequently identified through Chaos.
“Sumerian Cry” (1990)
On June 7th, 1990, C.M.F.T. Records present “Sumerian Cry”, Tiamat’s debut album, whose first press was only limited to 1500 copies. According to the band’s avid lovers, it is still considered the band’s greatest release so far. It’s thick blackened death metal sound makes is unique among the pantheon of records like “Left Hand Path” and “Like An Ever Flowing Stream” that dominated the extreme Stockholm scene. In addition, the track “Sumerian Cry, Pt. 1” is a re-interpretation of the intro melody from “Crawling in Vomits”, the first track off Treblinka’s first demo. Treblinka was Tiamat’s initial form, and had released only two demos called “Crawling in Vomits” and “The Sign of the Pentagram”.
“The Astral Sleep” (1991)
One year later, the band is already in Century Media’s roster. Hence, Tiamat’s sophomore record “The Astral Sleep” sees the light of day, on September 1st. During this era, it is more than obvious that the band had moved forward and started to leave behind their original death metal sound, creating a gloomy, gothic metal masterpiece, full of ambience and atmosphere. However, still blended with the original death metal style. The album’s themes are more related to Antichristianity. Captivating in all aspects.
“Clouds” (1992)
The band’s popularity starts to grow, while their next two albums are considered milestones for the age that they came out and are completely relevant today as well, in terms of influence to the genre. “Clouds” it is. “Clouds” allowed Tiamat to add new elements to the whole creation that were not really used before, such as clean vocal alternations with Edlund’s death growls and some subtle choirs. The atmosphere is, however, what makes the album that unique until today (and probably for many years to come). In addition, the death metal element is less relevent once again, giving it’s position to death/doom and gothic rock, inspired by bands such as the Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus.
“Wildhoney” (1994)
Where psychedelia meets the gloom, “Wildhoney” is created and the world is ready to witness its’ colossal impact to the world of music. The album comes out on the first day of autumn 1994 and is Tiamat’s magnum opus. The record flows in the most appropriate way possible, with all the songs being tied to each other and creating a flow that is nearly magical. The atmospheric self titled into, switching to the accoustical acid trip of “Whatever That Hurts” and the peak of the Holy Trinity being “The Ar”, cannot let someone take their attention away from this masterpiece. A must-have for all 90’s metal lovers, and not only.
“A Deeper Kind of Slumber” (1997)
Goth is here to stay and Tiamat are already considered a legendary metal act that has embraced the gothic aesthetics, along with bands such as Moonspell, Cradle of Filth, Katatonia and Lake of Tears. “A Deeper Kind of Slumber” is a less doom album, containing more experimental elements. The album marked the group’s first complete withdrawal from both death metal and conventional heavy metal elements. Tiamat is all about innovation. If someone is unable to handle music that doesn’t try melt down your face in awe, then my advice is to stay away from this band.
“Skeleton Skeletron” (1999)
Tiamat continued to bring successful records to Century Media, and only two years after “A Deeper Kind of Slumber”, came “Skeleton Skeletron”, this time not goth infused, but a goth metal hymn compilation in general. “Brighter Than the Sun”, “Church of Tiamat”, “As Long As You Are Mine”, as well as the Rolling Stone cover of “Sympathy for the Devil”, brought Tiamat once again under the spotlight for every darkly erotic lover.
“Judas Christ” (2002)
A winning team is not easy to change, so Tiamat haven’t really stopped bringing albums with a more goth rock orientated sound rather than their initial extreme metal attempts. Thus, “Judas Christ” is another splendid release by the Swedes. Best tracks? Probably “Vote for Love”, “Summer by Night” and “I am In Love With Myself”.
“Prey” (2003)
I could easily write tons of words and pages for “Prey”. Probably their best release after “Wildhoney”, in terms of arrangements. An ode to lost lovers, poetry straight from the heart to the vein. The heartbreaking opening track “Cain”, is also featured in the 2004 PC game “Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines”, followed by other songs to weep to for love, such as “Love In Chains”, “Carry Your Cross and I’ll Carry Mine”, “Wings of Heaven”, “Nihil”. The US Edition of “Prey”, comes with a W.A.S.P cover of “Sleeping (In the Fire). The band a few years after, releases also a live CD/DVD called “The Church of Tiamat”, recorded in Krakow in 2005.
“Amanethes” (2008)
It took five years for Tiamat to create another masterpiece and this time they switched to Nuclear Blast for a new release called “Amanethes”. Despite not being a really known release among the fans that were loyal to the early sound, “Amanethes” was more positively received than Tiamat’s previous releases, because of its return to their earlier metal sound in a few songs, while keeping the gothic rock element in other songs.
“The Scarred People” (2012)
This time through Napalm Records, Tiamat release their latest album so far. “The Scarred People” was out on October 2012. This particular record recalls the eerie eras of Moonspell and Paradise Lost in the late nineties and early years of the new millennium for bands such as Katatonia. It also features a Lana Del Rey cover of “Born to Die”, and a Bruce Springsteen cover of “Paradise”, on its’ limited edition. The best track off this record however is “Winter Dawn”. A true masterpiece, next to “Thunder and Lightning”.