You'd think that metal and Goth music would go hand in hand. Sure, one might typically be more energetic than the other and there are definitely some disagreements, but by and large the two share a lot of similarities. So much so that many metal bands have covered Goth legends, such as Kreator's rendition of "Lucretia (My Reflection)" or Sepultura putting their own spin on "Bela Lugosi's Dead," not to mention the affair between the genres that resulted in Gothic metal. Some bands in that sub-genre pay heavy dues to the Goth influences, such as Sweden's Tribulation. Celebrating twenty years of activity next year, the Arvika quartet are now unleashing their sixth full-length, "Sub Rosa In Æternum."

We begin the album with something of an extended intro in the form of "The Unrelenting Choir," where the bass guitar takes centre stage before Johannes Andersson brings in his deep vocals. It's a singing style familiar to many Goth and Goth rock fans, inspired by the likes of Scott Walker, David Bowie, and Andrew Eldritch, but it sounds as good as ever and works really well, both on this track and the rest of the record. It's not Andersson's only trick though, as death growls join the fray on "Tainted Skies," which has a Mission UK vibe about it, and these vocals become more prevalent on "When Saturn Comes Down."

One of the best things about "Sub Rosa In Æternum" is just how fluid it is. Each song flows so well into the next and it just makes it such an easy album to listen to. On top of this, there's a wonderful variation in atmospheres, yet several tracks are reminiscent of certain movies or eras. "Hungry Waters" for example has a kind of sunset in the desert vibe about it, a la From Dusk 'til Dawn, while "Murder In Red" seems to take great inspiration from Dario Argento movies. Elsewhere, "Drink The Love Of God" is almost like Goth metal written in a power metal fashion, containing a huge amount of excitement and energy that makes it one of the best songs on offer.

Though the easy flow is a plus, sometimes it works against the record. There are songs that stand out more than others, but few are memorable on their own. It's akin to watching a film that leaves the viewer with a feeling of "that was pretty good," but is rarely revisited. It definitely starts to drop off towards the end too, though the penultimate "Reaping Song," isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, reminding the listener of Iggy Pop's "Préliminaires" release, but it's a little bit weaker than the previous songs. The same can be said of "Poison Pages," which takes on a faster Goth rock approach and feels very moody but doesn't make much of an impact.

All in all, Tribulation has written an album they can be proud of. It's not going to make them stars or anything, but for the large crossover of metal fans who enjoy Sisters Of Mercy and Siouxie And The Banshees, they'll find something to enjoy here. For the newcomer, it's also intriguing enough to warrant a dive into their previous albums and discover what one has been missing for nearly twenty years. A fine album indeed.