Oscillation (album)

Oscillation was composed and recorded in 2011, during a difficult time for the band, with strong personal differences of Ronny Thorsen with Cathrine Paulsen and the guitarist Bjørn Erik Næss, when these had a partner relationship.[http://terrarelicta.com/index.php/feature-all/interviews/4856-viper-solfa-interview Viper Solfa – Interview] Consequently, Thorsen took a more secondary role than usual in this album, while Paulsen was involved in virtually all possible areas of production. The album had significant delays in its release date, after recording between September and October of that year.[http://terrarelicta.com/index.php/news/872-trail-of-tears-drama-within-the-band TRAIL OF TEARS – Drama Within The Band] An additional problem was the expiration of Trail of Tears contract with Napalm Records, extended in late 2007.

In January 2012, Trail of Tears announced that long-time drummer Cato Jensen has parted ways with the band.[http://www.drummerszone.com/news/newsItem.php?n01ID=10032&type=2 Trail of Tears Part Ways With Drummer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229172456/http://www.drummerszone.com/news/newsItem.php?n01ID=10032&type=2 |date=2012-02-29 }} drummerszone.com. 27 January 2012. Retrieved on 20 November 2012. Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow later joined the band as the new drummer. In fact, none of them participated in the recording sessions made little more than two months earlier in Marseille (Næss was the uncredited session drummer). However, Rønnow was included in the album credits and appeared in all the illustrative photos.

On 11 November 2012, the band revealed the cover artwork, made by Finnish artist Jan Yrlund.[http://www.bravewords.com/news/193538 Trail of Tears – New Album Artwork Unveiled] bravewords.com. 11 November 2012. Retrieved on 20 November 2012. The striking cover features a rusty steamship aground on a beach. The concept (with the frozen landscape in grayscale) seem reminiscent of Rammstein's Rosenrot (2005). In preparation for the release of Oscillation, the band signed to Massacre Records.[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=182656 Trail of Tears Signs With Massacre Records] blabbermouth.net. 23 November 2012. Retrieved on 24 November 2012.

In January 2013, Ronny Thorsen, Endre Moe, and Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow were announced to have left Trail of Tears. Thorsen has been reported as leaving the band, despite being the only constant member of Trail of Tears since its inception. The remaining members were initially reported to be Cathrine Paulsen and Bjørn Erik Næss; both parties split from one another on acrimonious grounds.[http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=184805 Trail of Tears Implodes Once Again] blabbermouth.net. 13 January 2013. Retrieved on 14 January 2013 According to Thorsen's Facebook statements, Massacre Records gave full support to himself, Moe, and Rønnow, while Oscillation was the final Trail of Tears album,[https://www.facebook.com/trailoftearsofficial/posts/471618092873669 Trail of Tears Statement] facebook.com. 15 January 2013. Retrieved on 18 August 2013. until the band reformed in 2020.

After long and torturous recording, the album was finally released in Europe on 26 April 2013, almost a year and a half after it was recorded, and with the band already dissolved. In North America, Oscillation was released until 11 June.[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/trail-of-tears-oscillation-to-receive-north-american-release-in-june/ TRAIL OF TEARS: 'Oscillation' To Receive North American Release In June]

The limited edition on digipak includes two bonus tracks: "Sleep Forever" and "Quick Fix of Shame".

About the album title, Thorsen said: "The word oscillation has a wide range of interpretation. For us, we wanted to play around the meaning of duality, balance and contrasts".[http://www.metal-rules.com/metalnews/2013/11/11/trail-of-tears-band-leader-vocalist-ronny-thorsen/ Metal Rules interview]

{{Track listing

| total_length = 51:30

| music1 = E. Moe

| lyrics1 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title1 = Waves of Existence

| length1 = 4:12

| music2 = E. Moe

| lyrics2 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title2 = Scream Out Loud

| length2 = 4:36

| music3 = E. Moe

| lyrics3 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title3 = Crimson Leads on the Trail of Tears

| length3 = 5:16

| music4 = E. Moe

| lyrics4 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title4 = Oscillation

| length4 = 4:27

| music5 = B. Næss

| lyrics5 = C. Paulsen

| title5 = Path of Destruction

| length5 = 6:02

| music6 = E. Moe

| lyrics6 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title6 = Vultures Guard My Shadow

| length6 = 4:18

| music7 = E. Moe

| lyrics7 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title7 = The Dawning

| length7 = 4:11

| music8 = B. Næss

| lyrics8 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title8 = Room 306

| length8 = 4:17

| music9 = B. Næss

| lyrics9 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title9 = Our Grave Philosophy

| length9 = 4:52

| music10 = E. Moe

| lyrics10 = C. Paulsen

| title10 = Lost in Life

| length10 = 5:09

| music11 = B. Næss

| lyrics11 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title11 = Eradicate

| length11 = 4:09

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Digipak bonus tracks

| total_length = 59:38

| music12 = E. Moe

| lyrics12 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title12 = Sleep Forever

| length12 = 4:15

| music13 = E. Moe

| lyrics13 = C. Paulsen, R. Thorsen

| title13 = Quick Fix of Shame

| length13 = 3:53

}}

• Ronny Thorsen – vocals
• Cathrine Paulsen − soprano
• Bjørn Erik Næss − guitar, drums
• Endre Moe − bass guitar

• Audun Grønnestad – additional orchestration, synths and programming

• Terje Refsnes – producer, engineer, mixing
• Audun Grønnestad – co-producer
• Mika Jussila – mastering at Finnvox Studios, Finland, December 2012
• Jan "Örkki" Yrlund – cover art, design, layout, photography
• Cathrine Paulsen – design concept [cover concept], typography [Handwritten Lyrics]
• Audun Grønnestad, Bjørn Erik Næss, Cathrine Paulsen – mixing
• Mixed At – Mayhem Music Studio in Kristiansand, Norway in 2012

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FwHKN2nSfE Oscillation Photoshoot]
• [http://www.discogs.com/Trail-Of-Tears-Oscillation/release/4532968 Oscillation st Discogs]
• [http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Trail_of_Tears/Oscillation/359551 Metallum Archives]
• [http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=86845 Oscillation at Metal underground]

{{Trail of Tears}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2013 albums

Category:Trail of Tears (band) albums

Category:Massacre Records albums