Ok, this is not really in my usual style of things that I review. Not because I don't like Gothic Metal, actually I enjoy it a lot. In fact, I've loved Gothic Metal like this since I was in high school, PARADISE LOST, TRISTANIA (the first 3 albums), AFTER FOREVER, MOONSPELL, and a lot of more bands that have been on my radar since forever. Though the name TRIBULATION rings a bell in my mind, I have to say I can't remember listening to them before.

As far as I can see, this band has a lot of experimentation. They've gone from Thrash metal to Gothic, passing with Rock and melancholy. To hear them for the first time on a live album, is something that can give a mixed reaction somewhat. Obbviously you want to hear a live performance, but I think, for the first time to hear a band, it's not as good as you may think. Of course I am not saying this release is a bad one, on the contrary, this is really pretty good. For a live album, this has an amazing production, and you can really appreciate all the instruments on the songs, and the slow bridges sound so well. The vocals are amazing, and if you're familiar with TRIBULATION, and already like them, I can fully recommend this release. As for a first timer, I can say I really like the band, I think they have some good structures over the songs, which are catchy as hell, with structures really well done. They sound so simple, but when you analyze them, you can realize that this is a complex composition, that takes a lot of effort to get it to sound as it does. No matter what, it certainly gets into your mind from the first notes they play.

Now I can say that I'm intrigued and definitely going to delve deeper into TRIBULATION's catalog. What I have heard here on "Alive & Dead at Södra Teatern", is something that I have really loved. So, if you are getting into this band for the first time like me, get just one album behind ("Down Below") and then it is for you to decide, but as far as I can say, enjoy this show, it's something really worth to listen.