The Angelic Process - Sigh (Ep)

Released right after "Coma Waering" ... one of my favourite things metal related these days ...

leap of faith? Huh? Now there´s something I suspect K.Angylus would have approved of

Trance to the Sun

Invisible Empire - Chants Before The Last Battle

After a sustained silence the beacons have again been receiving transmissions from the goth sectors. While not at all goth in the traditional 80s sense, it does carry that spirit into an updated electronic concept that doesn't betray itself to the "Graver" scene that plagued dance clubs with 4 on the floor sections for way too long. What you get here is a bit of a mix up.. Some coming across as a low fi industrial, some ambient structures with martial sensibilities and some of that same goth spirit coming out of the wounds. Definitely a difficult release to peg down in any simple defined genre context. Still, something here isn't quite right... a disturbing aura invading the works that wants to manifest itself, yet the artists involved still have something left to purge. A shame this was apparently a one and done band, as they definitely had some potential. For the more adventurous of you Xulborgs.

THE REAL WAR

Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows

Music as art, and art as music... When the artists themselves go through a transformation in order to present the picture and imagery for the living art they create. Such is the odd tale of one Anna Varney Cantodea of the amazing Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows.
An evolved form of goth that moved into wonderfully arranged and almost cinematic structures of chamber works adopted to goth sensibilities and rock sounds. One can draw some parallels to an act like Devil Doll at times. This makes for an amazing atmosphere of elegance... Of a form of music that few can even begin to approach. Subtlety, beauty and the joy of isolation and depression. The power of creating a world of your own to play in, in your own dwelling. To make your own party, your own theme, your own life and eventually, your own funeral. Watching the flowers you pick die in the vase and enjoying their decomposition.
This is oddly upbeat music at times, considering the subject matter of depression that is such a basis for so much of the project. A conquering of ones fears while still living in their shell is a good idea to what the mind of Anna is all about. All with a lovely mix of sarcasm, cynicism and broken romanticism. Surely one of the most unique projects you'll ever come across, and one highly recommended, as all Xul Lessons are. 2003's The Vampyre sucking at its own vein is an excellent place to start, as is 2004's Flowers in Formaldehyde, or even the Dead Lovers Sarabande albums. But remember... this is a project to enjoy the full discography of, and so Xul presents it for you.

NO ONE IS THERE

Shadow Project

The second installment of the works of Rozz Williams here at Xul, this time we focus on Shadow Project. One of the more accessible works due to his mixing pretty much the bulk of the established rock world at the time and throwing in everything, including the kitchen sink. It was basically an outlet for himself and fellow scene queen Eva O., who he later went on to marry. Definitely goth / death rock in its heart, it also mixed in some metal, punk, 70's glam, sleaze rock... and for good measure, a final acoustic album. Just like with Christian Death, Rozz presents an interesting but difficult world to peer into... Drug laced for sure (like everything the man does, you'd swear he was a walking opium pod), you get the idea of what is coming, grooving out to the music and then realizing that this is welcoming death for you. Friends that drugged you when you came over and are secretly enjoying the final conversations of your life as the poison begins to sink in... And you wasted it all talking about the weather. They always did tell you to be more interesting. At least those final twitches of your rapidly fading consciousness provided some sadistic entertainment. And really, isn't that all we ask for?
Start with the self titled or Dreams of the Dying. Then enjoy From The Heart (acoustic) and the live album (from 93!) .



I WISH I WAS A COFFIN

Fields of the Nephilim

Masters of the rock oriented world of goth, Fields of the Nephilim were at the top of the heap stylistically in the 80s. Taking a Pink Floyd influence, dabbling with Iron Maiden and old Western music, adding it to their 4AD palette in the process, then washing it it all down with some occultism themed material... all wrapped up in goths gone spaghetti western appearances. That difficult to attain but perfect blend of both sound and look in order to create that mystical aura to a band. They had it for sure. Very psychedelic in their own ways, this is one of those bands that is usually easy for metal fans to cross over into as their first forays into real gothic music. Capturing you with that spirit of other worldly dream state they sweep you away in their currents. One moment you're in the Old West, the next you're on the astral plane contemplating how you will ever get home again. The next driving down the highway without a care in the world as you feel death surrounding you on all angles with a welcome blanket of fuzzed out opiate warmth. Truly powerful stuff to absorb here and definitely not a band that can even begin to be scratched with just a casual surface listen. The band themselves eventually dissolved with vocalist Carl McCoy forming a more Ministry influenced outfit simply known as "The Nefilim", who released one lp (Zoon) included here for the sake of including it... Plus it's just one dark album.
You're going to want to start here with Revelations, then once that is a bit digested work your way towards Dawnrazor and Elizium and The Nephilim. Enjoy, as this is one of the finest examples of 80s goth that ever existed.

TAKE THE DREAM

Canaan

The continued evolution of Ras Algethi resulted in the creation of Canaan. Leaving behind their doom metal ways they kept the sound and qualities of RA, but morphed it with some gothic, darkwave and ambient experimenting. Again, you can see a clear link to Into The Pandemonium era Celtic Frost at times via the Monumentum influence. But that is only as a distant guide post. For Canaan have come so much farther. There is an undeniable romantic quality floating through the music of Canaan... Which gives way to loss when they work on the ambient textures in their earlier works. Brand New Babylon sees the band beginning to morph again into a more gothic act. Really, done quite well. Xul offers you the first 3 albums of Canaan. Start with Walk Into My Open Wound.


A SONG FOR PAIN

45 Grave

The early days of the American influence on goth were much more a party and drug fueled spirit. The before noted Christian Death were definitely a part of this but so were their peers 45 Grave, led by the hilariously named Dinah Cancer. This style progressed its way into one of the goth branches, in this case fused with punk and developing into the sound known as death rock. A bit more of an upbeat approach the gloom. Goofy and sarcastic in tone, they were more of a throw back to the Alice Cooper style of enjoying old horror films, cemetery beer bashes and heroin tea parties. They certainly weren't prolific, as Sleep in Safety is their only LP... Then Xul included their live effort Only The Good Die Young.

SURF BAT

Christian Death

Goth... such a misunderstood music genre which unfortunately tends to get overlooked by so many just for the amusing appearances and antics of a fan base that usually know little, if anything, about the subculture they attach an identity to. As usual, Xul knows the score. Xul knows what caverns to find the real deal and this is it. One of the most vital goth albums, period. The early years of a young Rozz Williams still young and bright eyed in his controversial heroin loaded career The sound of young'ns banging away on their instruments in a punk influenced trip that would eventually result in a lengthy career that saw the band pulling their own Napalm Death. That's right, none of the people you see in Christian Death are from the original lineup. Due to various soap opera tales not worthy of Xul we won't discuss that, but know, this is the most legendary album of the group. In its original incarnation. By all means explore this one if even slightly interested in what real goth is.

IT'S ONLY THEATRE OF PAIN