Tribulation

Sweden's Tribulation fuse classic thrash riffs and Scandinavian death metal with horror-tinged psych-metal textures. After releasing a pair of aggressive traditional death metal albums, the band shifted direction in 2015 toward progressive goth rock on Children of the Night. Further explorations of occult-metal and hard rock followed on Down Below in 2018, Where the Gloom Becomes Sound in 2021, and the Hamartia EP in 2023.

Tribulation, distinct from an unrelated early-'90s Swedish crossover thrash act, came together in 2005. Early experiments with multiple extreme-metal styles gave way to a fast death-metal sound paired with horror-themed lyrics, shaped by '80s influences including Autopsy and Morbid Angel. Vocalist/bassist Johannes Andersson, guitarists Jonathan Hultén and Adam Zaars, and drummer Jakob Johansson—who joined later—first appeared on the 2006 Putrid Rebirth EP via the indie label Blood Harvest. Regional touring preceded their full-length debut, The Horror, issued in early 2009 by Pulverised Records. The Formulas of Death followed in 2013, with Children of the Night arriving in 2015; on the latter the group moved away from death metal toward an occult-driven blend of goth, psychedelic, and traditional heavy metal. The similarly expansive and theatrical Down Below appeared in 2018, succeeded by the band's debut live album, Alive & Dead at Sodra Teatern, in 2019. Themes of myths and magic informed the fifth studio album, Where the Gloom Becomes Sound, in 2021. After longtime guitarist Jonathan Hultén departed to pursue solo work, Joseph Tholl joined and debuted on the brooding, elemental Hamartia EP in 2023.