In Rotation, June 2007
Andrew Fenner
DeatHat – Eponymy
Track Listing: Ghost (Haunted House Mix), The Stranger, (Give 12 Edges) Elcane, Orpheus, Never, Julio.
I don’t know if you can get much further off the beaten track than this group. The spare, minimalist arrangements are reminiscent of a jazz poetry reading from the beatnik 1950s, or something like gothic gamelan. The most complex track is a capella even... built only of finely intertwined, counterpointed female/male vocals.
Most remaining tracks feature electric bass and marimba, with occasional accompaniment by what sounds like ancient Greek instruments, but could be just pots, pans, whistles, and crystal glassware. Lead vocals are by Kate Saturday, bass and male vocals by Erik Ostrom, who I take to be the founders. There is, overall, a pervading poignancy that utterly overpowers any tendency to be amused by the material, rather than drawn in. A very unique effort by a very strange assemblage.
Elis – Dark Clouds In A Perfect Sky
Track Listing: Der Letzte Tag, Anger, Lost Soul, Perfect Love, Heart In Chains, Die Zeit, Black Angel, Devil Inside You, Rebirth, Are You Missing Me, Ballade, Show Me Heaven.
Outstanding gothic metal from Germany. Awesome female lead with male vocal backing and heavy – very heavy – with obvious classical music influences shading the Plutonian crunch and shredding solo guitar work.
The lyrics are in both German and English, with a decidedly goth inclination. This is a formidable band with a very tragic recent history (take some time and read through their bio). That they have rebounded with such power is a testament to musical integrity.
Naio Ssaion – Out Loud
Track Listing: Static, The Mirror, Teen, Miss You, Bow Link In E Minor, n.ss., Shut Up, blah-blah, Blind Date, Can’t You Hear, At Ease, Yours Faithfully , Out Of The Great Book Of Fairytales.
Ahhhh...more gothic metal, though maybe not quite as goth as Elis. Like Elis, though, this band has a dynamite female lead vocalist (again with male backing) and classical music influences to go with the metal. Where this Slovenian group differs is in their use of a favorite Led Zeppelin device; mixing hard and soft objects (from an arty painting/sculpture movement of the late 60s/early 70s). That is, they often segue from light, acoustic folk strains into explosive and very hard metal... and back.
The folk strains are East European and gypsy-like, while the metal makes use of an electric violin to do most of the solo shredding. The lyrics are in English here; if you want all Slovenian, try their first album. Another excellent band with first rate musicianship, and more proof that gothic metal is alive and kicking ASS!
The Horrors – Strange House
Track Listing: Jack The Ripper, Count In Fives, Draw Japan, Gloves, Horror’s Theme, Little Victories, She Is The New Thing, Sheena Is A Parasite, Thunderclaps, Gil Sleeping, A Train Roars.
A kind of British garage rock, but what sub-genre? Some novel effects derived from custom pedals built by the guitarist...plus some genuinely sick twists in content as well as sound. The band is young; this is their debut release, but they are catching on. They have already been banned at least once by the lamerz, so perhaps they will go far.
LOL... “Sheena Is A Parasite” ...effin’ outre !
Sinamore – A New Day
Track Listing: Follow Into The Cry, Crimson Leaf, Sleeping Away, Darkness Of Day, My Rain, Fallen, Misery Carnival, A New Day, Drama For Two, The Art Of Regret.
Yet more gothic metal; all male, and from Finland this time. The vocals have that quality more often found within ambient gothboi bands; the fine, dark resonance of voice and melodic/dynamic atmosphere. It’s tight, crunchy metal on the instrumental side though, leaning somewhat toward Alt/EMO radio rock. This record is their first full length release, but they are already close to unveiling their second. They are signed with Napalm Records, who seem rightfully overjoyed to have them aboard.
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