When Russia entered the Metal scene after the fall of Berlin Wall, things were not meant to be the same again. Russian musicians show a tremendous potential for Metal and Rock, and names as ARKONA and ARIA are here to show how the country can breed talented bands. And TRAGEDY IN HOPE is trying to spread its wings and conquer fans with "Sleep Paralysis", the band's first full length.

The band shows a form of Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal that recovers elements from the past, but blending them with the ferocity and aggressiveness from modern days. And it is really very good, showing very interesting (and excellent) musical contrasts (as the shrieks and tender female voices heard on "The Celebration of Despair and Woe"), some morbid and lovely melodies, but always with a strong personality. Obviously that the band shows potential to be even better, but for now is really very good. Vladimir Lehtinen is the one who worked with the band producing, mixing and mastering the album. Although it's not perfect, he built a very good sonority for the album, blending the rough and crude approach of Black Metal with a sense that the band must be understood by the listener.

Eight excellent songs awaits the fans, but the band's talent becomes extremely evident on "The Celebration of Despair and Woe" (excellent work on vocals, and on the melodies created by the keyboards, in a similar way to what CRADLE OF FILTH did in the past), "Fighting With the Rain" (another excellent set of melodies, with very good guitar riffs), the deeper Ultra Romantic/Gothic (in literature terms) ambiences of "Winter Wedding Ceremony" and of "The Mistress of Dark Art", and the bitter and aggressiveness of "Insomnious Autumnal Night" (some lead guitars are set perfectly, along with a very good work of bass guitar and drums). But to hear the entire album is really an excellent experience.

Dealing in a way that combines influences from the past with the present elements of Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal is what TRAGEDY IN HOPE is up to, and "Sleep Paralysis" shows that the band is really one of the new bands of this year.