Tristania have become a firm favourite of mine over the years.
The Original line up included the genius of both Morten Veland (Sirenia,Mortemia) and The fans favourite Vibeke Stene, they just had that chalk n cheese effect. the growl n grunt of Morten and the icy/hot beauty of the Vibeke vocal. Morten left after 2 albums, and Vibeke left after the Illumination album in 2007.
Vibeke was replaced by Mariangela Demurtas, who has her own defined vocal which is better suited to being a front woman, where as Stene was an angelic backing singer.
The Current album 2010s Rubicon is a very accomplished Rock/metal/pop album that probably alienates the original Veland/Stene fans, but has grabbed a whole new audience around the world.

My fave Tristania track ever, The Ravens

Vebeke Stene had a truly original vocal style, she could sound cold as ice or warm as the sun, her emotional vocal was the sound of Tristania, and the early fans still miss her to this day.
But unlike Tarja and Anette, there isn`t the constant comparisons between the 2.
I can only put this down to the fact That Tarja was sacked, and Vebeke chose to leave.

World of Glass is my favourite album, but Rubicon with new singer Mariangela Demurtas, is an addictive catchy album too, I love it.

Well I am new here..but I just saw this post and wow I have to agree on World of Glass being my favorite Tristania album too! It is a masterpiece!!!!! Simply their most perfect album yet!!! And one of the best albums ever made...those choirs are perfection! and super amazing growls and all clean vocals and violins..everything is perfect!!

Apparantly, Pete Johanssen the violin player on that album, is now back with Tristania full time, and will tour the world with them in the coming year, he was with them in London 2 years ago, he makes a hell of a difference.
Its the album that when your fed up with the albums you have, that is the one i can always put on and still enjoy.