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Here you can find some of our reviews translated in english as examples of what we do. They are mostly terribly outdated. First they are published in ukrainian/russian for the whole Ukraine, Russia, Belorus and other slavic countries and then we translate them in English for the whole world but as there are too many reviews coming we just can't translate them synchronously as we are overloaded with ones in slavic laguage (prove it here). Mostly these reviews are written for cd's and promo-copies sent to us. Feel free to send us you releases - we will make a promo of it for the whole public of Ukraine and Russia and play it with DJ sets on our gothic/industrial parties in cities of Ukraine. Where to send CD's ? - Address is here. ATTENTION! All new reviews are published weekly in in slavic version of CD REVIEWS! Some outdated reviews in english can be found below. "Feierabend", (c) 2001 SPV "Dennoch wird die Kontinuitat des
Au?eren den Kranken erneut zur Symptomhandlung treiben womit der Eingang in einen neuen
Zyklus aufgesto?en ist..." The Band "KIEW" is extreme electronic. The city Kyiv is extreme city. The
city is quiet from the first glace. Behind the mask of simplicity and commonness are
hiding the passions which are appropriate for the capital of the country of despotism,
corruption, domination of good buried, diplomatic violence… Power over the people -
unnoticeable and poisonous, like a sticky stinking web corroding the brain, which is
lining out of the anabiosis of youth. Beneath the healthy skin of image hiding the bad,
poorly turning blood. It is black and dead. Which is normally for a country where
everybody are quiet, but see what is going on… TV and Radio like two atrophied nerves.
They are transferring nothing anymore. They are just beating people with the whips of
governmental lie and the propaganda of healthy and "Sacrificed" , (p) 2000 Cleopatra Records I have been listening to this release for one year already. But the chance to write the review occurs only now. I can say that I have listened to this CD lot of times. And this CD was the base for soundtrack to the gothic-party "Children of Night". It is very difficult to distinguish something good and original on the goth synth / dark wave scene for the latest time. And I had just expected simple release with the mark “new heroes of dark wave / industrial" of American Cleopatra Records. Which is also well known by that it deals with all the crawling, moving and considered themselves as Goths. That's why at the beginning Cleopatra Records, released mainly numerous numbers of gothic, dark electro, dark wave, gothic industrial, gothic rock, etc. projects. However, later the business took a turn for the better - Cleopatra Records enticed some grandees of the style The Mission, Christian Death, etc. Quality and image had also been improved. Razed in Black indeed are the newcomers. But which one! Besides that, I have never heard a band with such a number of covers, most likely successful industrial, dark wave covers on Depeche Mode, The Cure, Skinny Puppy, Metallica, AC/DC, U2, Smashing Pumpkins etc, (all together about 50 covers). They also have such a long list of remixes. With all this work, also going on a successful side-project - Transmutator. Yes, before I forgot, Romell (this is the name of the leader and ideologist of Razed in Black) also writes music for many movies soundtracks… And for the latest time does also for computer games. Actually, the band Razed in Black (more precisely - mastermind - Romell) has released three albums. This is the forth one. Three previous albums were quite good. That's why "Sacrificed" should be the best one by increasing line. That is what has happened. Got this CD the other time, I couldn't turn away from listening to it. One track after another thrill myself by the cohesive line of dark electronics. Despite the resent debates in the net about the styles, the music of Razed in Black for me is exactly goth / dark synth. Even so, it can be called as industrial / dark wave crossover. That is what a lot of critics do. The album "Sacrificed", by the words of Rommel, is the sincerest release… And one can fills that in many tracks. Especially in the "I've suffered long enough".... The best track on my opinion is - "Master". Because of its music, it could be called as the hymn of Goths. By the way, this song was a sound support for the advertisement text of our party "Children of Night", in September 2000. Many people became interested in this song, when this ad was running on the radio stations. Track "Master» combines the venom of corrosive dark electronics, which leads the melody with the hard and sharps, as the blade, guitars. The music of Razed in Black just penetrates through the soul and comes to the various sides of consciousness. "Cought" -is the ideal balance of all reserves of electronics: break beat, industrial, techno, trance, and dark wave... I like dark electronics =) And of course i'm more than positive with reviews on this style..This track, so as the whole album, persuades that Razed in Black are the gods of electro-synthesis and the outrageous amsters of dark electro. During listening it becomes quite clear, that Rommell is very good at the various music equipment, which can only be used for music writing in general. No wonder -in fact, parents presented him a synthesizer, when he was in the fives form. In the eights form he started to play the guitar. And In the tens form he stared to write music. Indeed! . By Vitaliy "Stranger" Fedun "Kultura" , (c) 1994 Cooking Vinyl Records
Became acquainted with industrial, gothic, and other non-commercial
music, both Ukrainian and foreign, I always asked myself why about Ukraine and its
non-commercial music so little known in the world. In fact, Ukrainian land is reach in
talents, which are able to make not only pop music, but also serious conceptual work,
which are not worse, but often-even better. Êîìó Âíèç, Ìåðòâèé
ϳâåíü, ÄÍÊ, Ôëåð, Äàëåêî, Ñêðÿá³í - the world will hear about
them in the nearest future. From time to time, looking for music in German city Hanover,
among the numerous allotments with music CD, I unexpectedly for myself came across the
band named "The Ukrainians". I was astonished and very impressed, so of cause I
couldn't not to buy this CD. This CD impressed me more during listening. This is
definitely unique “Ukrainian dark folk”. After some time in the Internet I found
information and tried to systemize it. Ukrainians - is the band created by Ukrainian
immigrants (Peter Solowka - guitar, mandolin, back vocal; Len liggins- vocal, violin;
Stepan Pasicznic- accordion, vocal; Dave Lee- drams; Paul Dino- bass-guitar; Michael West-
mandolin, pipe, piano). They live in England, but they are not indifferent to their
Fatherland and inheritance of their ancestors. Having heard before to the gothic-folk in
performance of the band "Merlons", I made my conclusion, that work of The
Ukrainians was done on the high level and is not worse. Of cause, it is taken easier,
because it is our native folk. Music equipped with Ukrainian folk instruments, especially
tracks are well supplemented with chorus elements. The album, because of the gloomy voice
of vocalists, transfers the sense of pain. It is made in the style "Dann habe ich umsonst gelebt", (c) 2001 Trisol This is the third album of Austrian
project L'AME IMORTELLE. I'd call the album the most elevated work though there is
no pathos in any case. Sorrow and some lofty sadness of the music, created by Thomas and
Hannes and emotional power of Sonja's deep vocal -all that make the release to
be the best CD of L'AME IMORTELLE till now. The band doesn't dissapoint and in my opinion
moves to the right way. As usually releases of L'AME IMORTELLE balance between gothic,
synth pop and electro. Listening to their previous releases i was astonished by the fact
that besides quite heavy gothic and electro hits there were also pretty easy goth pop . It
seems that the band sometimes couldn't determine their style and conception because of
sliding through all the music styles. By the way L'AME IMORTELLE consist of
three persons: Thomas Rainer- lyrics, songwriting, vocals, CLONE YOUR LOVER , (c) 2000 EastWest "somethings for the pain inside me that will never die the pain inside me that will never die" CLONE YOUR
LOVER -this is a debut album of Zeromancer, dark - synth- industrial band. You can also
discover one track of ZEROMANCER on the compilation "Dark Summer - The Best Of Goth
Open Airs 2000".The band was formed form the members of such well known cult
bands as Seigmen, Vampire State Building, Prick and Kidney Thieves. The album is
straight, gloomy, provoking from the mind ample dark emotions of our being. I
would call their style - dark synth / industrial "ballad" crossover (at least
this is what comes to my mind after having listened to some of their compositions) .
Zeromancer successfully balances on the edge of sad and melancholic industrial and very
emotional synth goth. That’s why such a release on EastWest is so astonishing. The
band makes quiet and harmony-melodic, but at the same time very aggressive and dark-edged
music. Soft voice of the singer and angelic female back-vocal on the part of compositions
give to the music harmonical, complete sound. Although the texts written by KimLjung are
simple at the first glance, but they state a quite different ranges of human’s emotions
and feelings. It becomes quite impressive music when these compositions are being sung by
flexible and insinuating voice of Alex Moklebust + additions of different technological
decisions... The music of moral and emotional break down and march reefs make this
album being totally the whole hit. Other words, even although the first album of
Zeromancer is not so long,it is about 30 min (and we can only regret about it), but all
songs are complete and utterly finished dark synth/industrial hits. Nevertheless, among
the hole hits, I would mark out "Something For The Pain" – a song will make
crazy esspecially fans of gloomy industrial and “suffering” texts. ( this is my
favourite one so..). We also played this song on out latest goth party.The album ends with
graceful and atmospherical ballad - Houses of Cards.This song shows that band can
make completely different material.The only negative note is that in the some songs i can
feel experiements of Alex Moklebust ( singer) with the “death" (a-la
Rob Zombie) vocal, it seems to me this is not so right, because the singer has a
very talented original voice. And this vocal + enough emotionally texts point out the band
from the others similar to them on scene. There are some interesting facts about the band
– when i bought the last Orkus in my favorite press-shop on Hannover banhof I realized
that Zeromancer will take part in the "Dark Storm Tour - Festival" in glorious
Germany starting from 25.12.00. ( featuring And One, Mila Mar, Philip Boa and Vodoo
Club also ). And the very urgent news for Zeromancer lovers - they are touring now
with Project Pitchfork in Germany. And we hope that in some time Ukrainian Gothic Portal
may organize ZEROMANCER performance in Ukraine... But right now we will try to interview
ZEROMANCER on their concert in Hannover... The Basement , (c) 2000 Selfreleased "I'm a child I have always done wrong Album of a french duet Angel Self Destruct is one of rare CDs , which were sent to us during the last period from France, and also one of the most impressing albums. The capital of elegance doesn't give us many good gothic bands... But at the same time French dark/gothic scene is well developed and can give the world very interesting music. And this very release proves that. The duet consist of Laurence- vocal, programming and Alex -programming, bass and other guitars. The band was created in 1998 and round about the same time released first demo CD 'Only Panic', and soon MCD 'Kitch & Chaos', which can be characterized as gothic wave electro... Less then a year had passed before the demo single appeared , the one which was sent to us and seems to forestall the first album...So, the single consists of 4 tracks and is recorded practically in the same stylistics, though every song there has it's original atmosphere , ironical and refined lyrics and dark deepness , the name of it is 'The Basement'. In whole the style Angel Self Destruct can be called gothic psychodelic/ dark wave . The first track 'Hanry's baby' is a combination of gloomy electronic passages and the perfect guitar a la Bauhaus , Joy Division and early The Sisters of Mersy. The song gives an atmosphere of the times of the beginning of gothic , combined with modern technological solutions... Woman's vocal , sometimes gentle and insinuating, sometimes frankly one of a witch a la Eve O... The second track 'The Saw' ( my favourite) - is an absolute hit. Perfect combination of vocals by Laurence and Alex , the beginning is a la synth pop and a powerful refrain at the edge of gothic industrial . This track can easily compete with such grands as Sunshine Blind and Collide... The only remark from my point of view is that the track can be made a little heavier. 'Primordial Eve' is a hit as well, takes us to atmosphere of melancholy , gentle sadness . It reminds strange , but impressing mix of Dead Can Dance, Swans and Black Tape for a Blue Girl...In whole a feeling of freedom and a flight is left after listening to the disc. The CD seems to be the roaming in the basement and at the opening of each door you get to the separate area , you sink into the different music... Besides the last two tracks just don't let you go and are hold in the involving , attracting by its sadness and dark power stylistics... We'll hope the debute album to be hold in the same original style of Angel Self Destruct. Vitaliy "Stranger" Fedun Eve , (c) 2001 The mistery of sound At the end of 1996,
having left a really remarkable Australian band IKON, a vocalist Michael Aliani (aka
Corrodus) and a bass guitarist Dino Molinaro started working together. These very
musicians has created the basis of the future Chiron. Only afterwards they were joined by
a drumer Vadim Beliakov and Shura & Leva ( B-2) . But as it always
happens, our music industry makers made the whole idea more poplike and gave us
an absolutely original product with B-2 'dressing' , though there was no actual
influence of them as it is seen from the results. No more words about them.
The album, which was released in Europe under Italian lable Energeia Records in
April 1996, this time as a Russian edition gets to the territory of the formal Soviet
Union. Leaving IKON by musicians was scarcely caused by creative crisis, for the music by
Chiron can't be called a 'new period' in that very meaning. In fact that was a
fission of IKON, and though one of it's parts got that name, it couldn't influence
its creative conception. That's why it is difficult to percept Chiron as
something different from its origin. The same mood has remained, expressing own
feelings, and the main means of its music embodyment - sad, nice and romantic, deep
and heartfelt compositions. Very melodic , gentle and dinamic guitar parts combined with
nice vocal of Micael Aliani sound emotionally and rather sad , but the sadness here brings
some creative moment. The only new thing here can be some increased hardness of guitar
sound. Notwithstanding all their irreproachable work ( what is not a wonder
nowadays), perfect sound doesn't reimburse some simpliness and forced constructions of
some compositions : there is a feeling that they just needed to be recorded without any
reason.
(c) 2000 Tribute Records At last the CD I've long waited for is in my arms. After having listened to two attempts to play the Sisters of Mercy's music by gothic bands of 'the second wave' ('First and Last and Forever' , released at Cleopatra records and one more CD with gothic metal covers), this release attracted my attention. This third version is quite interesting first of all for the CD is consisted of covers made only by Swedish gothic, gothic-metal and industrial bands. That is, it represents almost all the modern gothic scene of Sweden. Bay Laurel opens the Cd with the cover Poison Door- extremely good cover - Bay Laurel doesn't fail itself, excellent gothic vocal and a real gothic-metal a la The Sisterrs of Mercy . The band goes on with the founders of the genre on a level with the Merry Thoughts , Behind the Scenes and Star Industry... The Mist Of Avalon's 'Some Kind Of Stranger' is a gothic-metal of high quality , it will please fans of Type o Negative , Tiamat, HIM etc... The Mobile Mob Freakshow and their track 'Alice' is an obvious attempt of the real metallists to get to goth group, but they failed. Headtrip Inc's 'Floorshow' is well performed industrial though it lacks some originality. Funhouse's 'Body and Soul' just as Bay Laurel is excellent gothic-rock, the voice is deep and reminds Roni's voice from Clan of Xymox on last two albums. Sex Sex Sex with 'Vision Thing' is a primitive pank both in their music and in the vocal , I just can't get why are they on the CD... Dawn Of Oblivion's 'Body Electric' is one more gothic rock band with obvious becoming a la Eldridge. The only thing worth reminding is guitar work... Sons Of Neverland's 'On A Wire' both by their appearance and by vocal are Swedish clon of the Fields Of the Nephilim. Besides i can assure you there are no original things by them. If you ever wanted to listen to the Fields of the Nephilim's performing the Sisters of Mercy's songs then you have a chance for it... Dan Swano's 'Lucretia My Reflection ' - quite original, nice and deep thing. As always Swano imbued with the project he had got down to. It is a must to be listened to by fans of EOS and gothic-metal. Probably one of the best covers on the CD... Darkside Cowboys's ' First and Last and Always' is an original industrial thing. Snow Storm's 'Something Fast' is the next metal cover... 'Temple Of Love' by Desire - well , after Kreator's cover to the song it was not a surprise for me- good performed but the vocal is rather weak and leaves much to be desired...The best and the most original covers from my point of view are made by Bay Laurel, Darkside Cowboys, Funhouse and Dan Swano..Vitaliy "Stranger" Fedun
Lesbian Show , (c) 1997 Holy records I think it's time to dilute somehow that industrial-synthypop wave, which is dominating recently in our rewievs with the help of Stranger, who is probably under the influence of staying in the country of Zoth Omog. Gothic , thank God, is not limited by various electronic and noise directions. Its routs are actually in rock music, and the real live rock shouldn't be underestimated to please those modern electronic things. Though, except gothic rock as such , especially recent time, there are a lot of interesting gothic directions, which are worth paying attention. Among them there are not only inveterate electronic but metal of all kinds as well , though our portal didn't pay appropriate attention to it. So let's try to fill the gap. NIGHTFALL , one of the most well-known Greek bands in the world, began its career in 1992 with an album 'Parade Into Centuries'. At that time their music represented real black-death metal, but their sound evolved afterwards, elements of black completely dissapeared, death basis was left over, the sound became more experimental and versatile, though it preserved its former heaviness. A lot of critics compare late NIGHTFALL with IRON MAIDEN - guitars are much alike, only heavier, though i wouldn't draw some concrete parallels, the atmosphere of NIGHTFALL's music is much different, really gothic, gloomy , depressively neurotic. NIGHTFALL as UMBRA ET IMAGO are pioneers of s/m image in their style. To describe NIGHTFALL's ideology briefly - from the words of the band's leader Eftimas Karadimas- 'this is to come to know everything in life, to become acquainted with all it's sides and to judge everything independently'. In general Eftimas is a supporter of phylosophy of individualism, the only power, that in his opinion can resist vulgarity and sanctimoniousness of a philistine and monotony of everyday life. And now get down to music. 'Lesbian Show' is the 4th complete album of the band , the gloomiest ,the heaviest and provocing . Love and passion as always are the main subject of their lyrics. This time the central part has a lyric hero, who is failing to find his place in the world and loosing any interest in life . Torments of his restless soul are the basis of lyric conception of the album. The music can be characterized by heavy guitar sound, perfect work of rythm section, traditionally powerful and a little bit hoarse vocal of Eftimas. Most of the compositions are of middle tempo , only the starting track of the same name with the album and 'My own troy' are fast enough . We should mention good work of a producer and rare for nowadays almost complete refusal all electronic effects, that makes the music more beautiful, just as hand-made thing. In general it is very bright and non -standard work, which fits very different tastes.( Grigoriy "Tyrant" Sitenko)
THINGS FALLING APPORT, (c) 2000 Interscope records
This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here.
THINGS FALLING APPORT, (c) 2000 Interscope records This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here.
SUPHINA'S LITTLE BEASTS , 2000 (c) Selfreleased This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here.
VERT , 2000 (c) Grief Records This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here.
SENDESROS DE TRAICION , (c) 1990 EMI ( Latin ) This
is the second album of the most popular spanish gothic rock groups. After having
listened to their album ‘Avalancha’ prodused in 1995 and having received only
positive impression , I decided to get also their previous albums. This is- in my opinion-
their best album due to that distinctive live sound of gothic-rock which was
launched into gothic by the Mission, the Cure, Fileds of the Nephilim… The most
interesting fact is that with the very first chord of the song ‘Entre dos tierras’
a wild feeling appears that you will hear the voice of our gothic idol
Victor Tsoj. There is something very similar to KINO’s music indeed. May Her
four faces , (c) 1999 Vils Abyss Production This review is available now only in russian. You can read it here.
CARCINOPEST , 1997 (c) Gashed Records A 'canonical' dark emb/electro. Actually it can be understood from the very label of the record studio -Gashed-ebm/electro label. And the first edition of the album was produced by Zoth Ommog (in fact the biggest ebm/electro label). Aghast View is from Brazil. It appears that there also can be groups able to create ebm at high level. This release can be laying on a shelf with such grand groups as Wumpscut, Mentallo and the Fixer, Leather Strip. This is the second album by Aghast View. The sound of CARCINOPEST (the album) reminds a concentrated mix of the most positive qualities of all groups mentioned above and it also combines fury of Wumpscust with cold aesthetics of Leather Sprip. And notwithstanding all these comparisons Aghast View is a completely original ebm project. As the distinctive feature of their music is concentricity of every track. Every song seems to have been hold for a long time in one's cold, synthetic and full of dark energy mind and has gained all his features... Aghast View was created in 1992 by Brazilians Guilherme Pires, Fabricio Viscardi, Denis Rudge and Rodolfo Viscardi and the staff hasn't been changed by this time...During their creative career Aghast View has also made heaps of remixes of In Strict Confidence, Swamp Terrorists, NEUROACTIVE, and etc... This album includes remixes of In Strict Confidence and Funker Vogt and that gives a feeling of original power and dark pressure of Aghast View ,and at the same time their ability to perfect other material...Vitaliy "Stranger" Fedun CULTURAL MINORITY , (c) 1998 SPV "Drink the poison
and my world, Slowly sinks into Having listened to composition You Spin Me Round - industrial-gothic caver Dead or Alive in the performance URANIUM 235 on the lattest SPV Sampler I started to look for their releases in German shops. So now I’m having here in my arms the long waited CD. The first impressions of mine – for the debut album it is even too strong. Album - is simply very good combining of the elements. I would call them to be the "new wave" gothic-industrial band. If it could be possible to combine the strenth with aggression sometimes colossal by its power and with electronical gothic of bells of Apocalypse, and to mix it with drive of industrial + excellent and ironical texts - then it would be the last album of New-York industrial-gothic band URANIUM 235. The combined magic of two styles and two voices, one of which is soft and covering - gothic voice , and the other one is angry and sobering up - industrial one , they have lead me through the world of grief, dispair – "Drown" , through the dark world of emotions and sufferings - "Scent Explosion" , Through the strength of gothic caver "You Spin Me Round". And if "Wicked Game" in interprtation of HIM I consider to be the best gothic-metal cover - then "You Spin Me Round" in industrial-gothical remix of URANIUM 235 – is outstanding luxury. But the song"Bleed My Desease" – is the whole gothic from URANIUM 235. Most of all I liked "Here It Comes" – it is despair on the edge of industrial, and that is usual for the band’s sound, from my point of view. The band's leader - Shane – is rather open-minded and expressive person ( this can be noticed while deepening in song texts – a specter of song's subjects surprises ) and he also has choosen rather gothic image in everyday's life ( it can be noticed from the look on his foto)… But in general URANIUM 235 is a band which consists of 5 persons, and everyone of band harmonically completes the bands music and doesn't overload at all... The band is difficult to compare with others, because sound is rather original. Uncommonly harmonical combination of elements which are not very often to combine together – gothic, industrial and metal. This album is one of a few industrial releases nowadays with gothic elements, which will take the right place that it deserves ( one of the best) among the new wave of industrial. Vitaliy "Stranger" Fedun "I LIVE YOUR DREAM" , CD - single This review is available now only in russian. You can read it here. Sergey "D'Junior" Gromov (Antisisters)
(c) 1994 Atlantic Recording Corporation This review is available now only in russian. You can read it here. Sergey "D'Junior" Gromov (Antisisters)
"Songs Of Betrayal" , (c) 1995 TRIPLE X Records When Johnny
Indovina was asked of the source of his inspiration he said: ‘My songs are
about feelings and and experience every one knows. About the things that
excite soul and heart of a person. When we feel pain we are looking for a
consolation in art. I’m going to write music as long as I feel an ability to say
something new, to describe human feelings by mean of music’.
"Infernal Love" , (c) 1995 A&M Records This review is available now only in russian. You can read it here. ( Ãðèãîðèé Ñèòåíêî )
"Das Tagebuch Der Hanna Anikin"' , (c) 1997 This review is available now only in russian. You can read it here. ( Ãåîðãèé "Black George" Âåðëþæñêèé )
"Enslaved + Condemned" , (c) 2000 Hall Of Sermon Pity but
sometimes it may happen . Changing a label is like changing a skin. And by now
the 3rd release by Love Like Blood is going to be produced at the Hall Of Sermon,
and very little of that REAL has left, to which we have used to from the time of their
great creations, such as Sinister Dawn (1989), Ecstasy(1991), Demimondes or An Irony
Of Fate (1992).From the very first thing of Enslaved+Condemned album you are ready to hear
Tilo Wolf , though there and then pull yourself down: a conductor can’t sing. Cry
Out. I thought that was AC/DC. But no, “Love Like Blood” was stated on the box.
So this is a real balsam for one’s soul. As long as LLB is able to write such
things not all is lost. And there is no such influence to ‘ suppress’ the song.
Though it’s too early to be glad: during further listening you can take it for
Metallica, Anathema or Paradise Lost. There is a feeling of something secondary and made
of nothing new.Actually there were an easier way to do everything: just to leave on disc
the only track 7Seconds which is the cover-version of well-known duet of Nena
Cherry and some nasal Negro with an unutterable name. ANN' SANNAT "Ïåñåííûå ñêàçàíèÿ ýëüôîâ" , (c) 1998 This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here. ( Ãåîðãèé "Black George" Âåðëþæñêèé ) "...The Last Embrace" , (c)2000 Cold Meat Industry This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here. ( Ãåîðãèé "Black George" Âåðëþæñêèé )
"Awaking The Centuries" , (c) 2000 This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here. ( Ãåîðãèé "Black George" Âåðëþæñêèé )
"Alchemie" , (c) 1999 Wolrd Serpent This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here. ( Ãåîðãèé "Black George" Âåðëþæñêèé )
"Lost Atlantis" , (c) 2000 Cruel Moon This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here. ( Ãåîðãèé "Black George" Âåðëþæñêèé )
"Verehrt und Angespien" , (p) 1999 Mercury This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here. ( Ãåîðãèé "Black George" Âåðëþæñêèé )
"The Cycle" , (p) 1999 Oblivion
/ SPV "Human Drama", (C)1992 PROJEKT Acoustic gothic, plane and majestic at the same time. Referring
to music the album constitutes a combination of an acoustic guitar, which sets the tone
and a violin that creates the melody. The album is a trip to the world of simple human
feelings, such as pain, fear, tiredness, sorrow, loneliness. Wonderful philosophic lyrics To see the translations of song texts of this album you can of Human Drama you see here in section of Dark Translations "Eternity" , (c) 1996 PEACEVILLE Records This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here. ( Ãðèãîðèé Ñèòåíêî )
"…The last embrace", (c)2000 Cold Meat Industry Lux aeterna luceat eis, dona eis requiem sempiternam On warm summer days of June has this cold album appeared at our so-called music market. For those of you who hasn't lived by this or that reason at the Middle Ages, Arcana opens the door leading there. The door to the world of a great tragedy, where you can understand with the very first note, that you doesn't land a wedding. A non-stop stream of feeling of anxiety and sadness will draw you in- and then the other wave-of despair and hopelessness is to engross all your nature. Majestic, slow and quite penetrating atmospheric compositions are drawing a completely dull and sombre picture. It can be regarded as a joke, but the wrong band seems to be named 'My Dying Bride'. The style of Arcana goes much more better with a process of dying. Has everybody heard the tune, that can't be already heard by those who are attended for their last time? Exactly this way the compositions of '...The Last Embrace' are executed. A universal sorrow fills me when listening to the record. For those who likes to drive himself to the edge while listening to such 'despairing' songs, there is nothing better for a 'purification through misery' I could recommend. The future is to bring even more apocalyptic compositions. And in the meanwhile- the latest embrace of Arcana. see
a tree standing there. "Sleep Has His House" This review is available now only in Ukrainian/Russian. You can read it here. (Àëåêñåé Ïîïîâ)
P.S. You can also listen on our Portal to the cooperate worl of Current 93 and Nick Cave - All the Pretty Little Horsies Comments to : stranger@gothic.com.ua |
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amebiasis
lifestyle. All what is currently happening in Kyiv, German band KIEW has just
predicted in their texts! This album was reordered in the year of 2000, when it
was nothing known about today's conflict of adiposity incubatory authority and droved in
the concrete cells and crucified in the TV people… I knew about the existence of a band
with such a name for long time ago. 
But I have
not heard any releases before the leader of the band Andreas Thedens has sent me the first
CD for review. It's obvious that the name KIEW attracts one's attention. There are not so
much bands in the world, which refer or devote their creation to Ukraine… I can say even
more - it is possible that people in Germany heard the word Kiew more after the concerts
of the band or after having bought their CD, than from the TV news. The name of the CD
"Feierabend in Kiew" (figuratively - like " quit evening, end of the
working day in Kyiv") tells about itself… The black irony of the name can be found
in every song, in every sample. High quality and presentation of the music also should be
noted. The band KIEW - "its kind of a one man project", project of Andreas
Thedens. KIEW was formed in 1990. Only after 1997 band became known in Germany. In
particular, their popularity started with the release "Feierabend in Kiew". The
main track of the album will appear in the new "Zillo Club Hits 2001"
Compilation soon. The style of the band can be described as "break beats and power
noise industrial experimental mix". 
Something like
that came to mine mind, but I would refer this more to the dark power electronics
/ industrial. Kiew is extremely genious in making painful pictures on the
lanscapes of dark electronics. I didn't expect I would like this album so much. People say
that behind the bright name is nothing good. In the case of KIEW it is not so. From song
to song you are walking through the dark streets of the city named Kyiv. Gushing without
limits emotions, emptiness, despair, fury against the system, odd smiles of one's people,
aversion of the society, needless of outstanding emotions in the city of rains - all this
atmosphere was transferred in the CD "Feierabend in Kiew". This release consists
of eight tracks, three of them are remixes… All started with the track "Feierabend
in Kiew" - such a pure power electronics with post - industrial beat. Very original
is a sample of the female vocal, which with the tone, full of heterosexuality and
announcer bearing, describes the details of the rule less fights (tournament of such
fights took places not a long time ago in Kyiv). Demonstration of "brother's
caress" on the ring, the rules of the fights, thoughts, broken arms, flown out eyes
are specified in this CD… On my question about the appropriateness of such a samples,
the leader of the band KIEW Andreas Thedens answered: -"this contrast of a cold voice
of news announcer, telling the phrases like "yes he could survive", " the
blood bathroom after the hard work" on the one side and of the horror of events on
the ring on the other, shows the terrible lack of humanity in modern media-technologies
and on TV in particular. Than going a track "Funky Cold Medina" - the next
sample of brutal, severe and energetic power electronics. Very dancing track, what was
proved by the Germans club charts. This song can be well characterized by the word - fury.
This is a rehash of the Tone-Locs old rap hit. Sampler tells about the drugs and
cockroaches (by the way, cockroaches along with the toothbrush get in the logo of KIEW).
"Geruchte" (kmk version) - immediately I remembered the last release of
Ukrainian ritual industrial project ÊOTRA - "Vert". This track
is very similar with the sound of the last track of KOTRA. And there is something similar
in the music of two bands. The sample with "outside" shout suits very well. By
the way my best track is the forth one - "Feierabend in Kiew" (rock remix by
tweakerray)... I can explain the way. Keyboard instruments in this track reproduce such an
impulses of endless agony and suppressed pain, that being got accustomed to the pressing
of power electronics, noise and post-industrial, I didn't expect such an impressing side
of this music. This track exposes to the very atmospheric condition of "going
inside"... The beat sound - reminds somehow the beating of the heart. And this is
very charming. It's attracting and forcing to listen to the track again and again. To be
short - "Feierabend in Kiew" (rock remix by tweakerray) - is an absolute hit of
this release, i like this remix very much... Notruf - is the track which combines horrible
industrial and some more horrible hip hop. All these are not taken so well after the
previous masterpiece… Thus it cause disharmony. That is definitely a misprint of CD.
"Am Ende" - is in spirit of the whole album, which force you to understand that
normal Feierabend in Kyiv is not possible… If you sometimes decide to get familiar with
the work of band KIEW, which in a strange way connected itself with Ukraine, I would
recommend to start with this release. Besides this release is compulsory for all fans of
dark electro, experimental electronics and especially power electronics… "Keine
anschluss unter diese nummer" [grin].. By 
which combines elements of folk (60%), gothic (30%) and
sometimes punk (10%) =). Music of The Ukrainians is seemed to me similar to Swans and even
somehow to The Mission (probably, because of the gloomy vocal, chorus and female back
vocals). The Ukrainians managed to combine and transfer atmosphere of despair and boredom
of Ukrainians, which are scattered and lost all around the world. The best suns of Ukraine
abroad keep the flame of Ukrainian spirit, save it and pass it for new generations. They
believe that the time will come and they will have the chance to return to their
Fatherland. Wherever they live and however good lifestyle they have, nostalgia for their
Homeland accompanies them the whole life. Because one starts to understand what means the
native country when he is far away from the mother's home, childhood, and when he knows
that will never come back. Album consists of 13 tracks. It starts with the composition
“Ïîë³òèêà” (Polityca). Music presents the atmosphere of Cossacks marches; it
is a kind of a Cossacks march. Text is well right for the latest circumstances in Ukraine.
"ìåí³ çäàºòüñÿ öå äåðæàâíà çðàäà".... That means, in
front of the Cassock army should be a real ataman, but not a traitor-politic (like a
prediction about nowadays). In the song “Ukraine-America” musicians state their mind
against foreign expansion, at the same time appealing to the one's own heart.
"Êè¿âñüêèé åêñïðåñ" (Kyiv express) is the original appeal for
all Ukrainians to return to their Homeland. "Ñìåðòü" (Death) has a very
philosophical meaning. Here national Ukrainian àëåãî𳿠were used. Composition
" ʳíåöü" (the End) tells us about the way musicians see the end of the
world. The last composition is a connection of musicians with Ukrainian national song. The
album with the dark atmosphere ends with the more cheerful song. Actually, this song is
not in the style of the album. Probably it's a Hope for the better. At the end musicians
thank all people who helped in organizations and record of the album. By 
management; Sonja Kraushofer- vocal; Hannes
Medwenitsch- songwriting, keyboards. Song 'Erinnerung' opens the album, besides the basis
there is an electro violin and a background element of industrial beat. By its
monumentalism it reminds In The Nursary in their best times. Ecpessialy the song impresses
due to its inner contrasts... This album I would haracterize as "electro orchestral
gothic edging impulsive and emotional synth pop". Then following the album further
there are typical of L'AME IMORTELLE songs, but they have also much more sadness and
deepness... 'Umsonst gelebt' - one of the best tracks of 'Dann habe Ich umsonst gelebt'
and my is my personal favourite...All the components of the album -synth pop, orchestral
gothic, electro elements - are so harmonious that rather simple structures of some
previous songs are completely forgotten...There are expressive bells almost in all songs
though they can't be called apocalyptic or even funeral . They are a kind of
anxious, agitating to stand up from bended knees and go the roads to another land (
or vice versa - in my opinion L'AME IMORTELLE by this album tries to get you high with
their music to the very soul of yours and to clean you from all the dirtiness of life)
This album is a small revolution in goth synth/electro style a-la L'AME IMORTELLE.. I
should admitt the bells don't overload the music but even supplement every track of the
new release. 
There is also a bonus track -cover of the
cult song 'Life Will Never Be The Same Again', which is performed in duet with Sean from
London After Midnight. It is worth noting the hige progress in lyrics. It is still half
German, half English. But now the verses are not just supplement to their music as
sometimes happens - it is real plesure to read them and a lot of splendid phrases are
there for the whole life of yours. 'Dann habe Ich umsonst gelebt' made the power of sound,
entrancing emotionality of Sonja's voice and perfect lyrics by L'AME IMORTELLE equal.
By the way 'Slut'- rather a dismal and strange in its atmospheric spirit album. It's like
returning back in the times when Thomas Rainer and Hannes Medwenitsch (without Sonja in
that time) were creating agressive and strict dark electro... Only after Sonja's coming to
the band (she used to be their classmate) the music became softer and was roaming in the
whole spectrum of electro gothic- from sad synth pop to dismal and evil electro. General
impression of the album - it is the best release of L'AME IMORTELLE till now and the real
candidate for this year ( 2001) for being the best album in the style which is
characterized by german gothic magazine as "gothic-romantic-electro"... 
ANGEL
SELF DESTRUCT
V/A
"MERCYFUL TRIBUTE TO THE SISTERS"
NIGHFALL
NINE INCH NAILS 
SUPHINA'S LITTLE BEASTS
be that dark energy which was a
distinctive feature for KINO. ‘Heroes del Silencio’ is translated as ‘The heroes of
Silence’ . .The music of the album atmospheric and consists of interweaved
string chords. A real Spanish rock. The vocal seems to be velvet , sliding and a
little bit howling. Ideally suits the music. The lyrics is ‘sharp’ and fatal ( by the
way my friend who was translating the lyrics for me, was surprises to find that they are
similar to KINO’s lyrics in their complication and invocation. t is also
important to mention that the group is from North Italy. The life there is quite
complicated, and that was the reason for them to sing about the impossibility to
express one self , impossibility to sing of what you like to sing, about the impossibility
to force one’s way through the unseen silence… The album can be recommended for the
real fans of pure gothic-rock, KINO, the Cure… In Ukraine the similar music was
played possibly only by Tabula Rasa and just at their first album ( at the time when
they played gothic-rock ). The most appealing composition in my opinion is
‘Entre dos tierras’. The most gothic one is ‘Despertar’ ( ‘Despair’) (here
guitars with a harpsichord are connected). The second part of the disc consists of
magnificent acoustic ballads.
THERAPY?
HAGGARD
