For many fans — unfortunately for some, fortunately for others — one must acknowledge the fact that at a certain point in time, this band reached a turning point when traditional sources of inspiration and creative ideas grew too scarce, and the group began seeking them far beyond the vast boundaries of metal as a genre. I think many understand what I'm referring to, as such tendencies have manifested in more than one world-renowned act! And this, as a result, became a cause of ideological division among fans, and often within the bands themselves. I speak in the past tense because as far back as '99, such a fate befell CREMATORY. And as a result, this year, alongside the album "Fly," an entire trilogy called Early Years appeared, which fully and completely expresses the duality and genre diversity of the band's output. The first disc contains all the material that the gothic metal formation CREMATORY can be proud of for all eternity! Here are gathered all the best hits from albums spanning 1993-1996, and longtime fans of the band can truly consider this disc golden — it rightfully deserves a place of honor on the shelf. On this compilation, every single track is a mini-masterpiece whose name any true fan can utter with pride. Compositions such as "TEARS OF TIME," "IST ES WAHR," and "Shadows of Mine" deserve a place on the list of the greatest creations in the history of the gothic scene. The only unfamiliar piece on this disc was the composition Medley — its name speaks for itself. It's "TEARS OF TIME" and "IST ES WAHR" merged into one (in the most literal sense).
Now the other side of the coin — which gleams no less brightly, only in a different spectrum: the spectrum of modernity and fresh perspectives on music. These are remix versions of those same early works. And here are the names of those who assisted the band in recording them: Bruno Kramm (Das Ich), Raymond Boye (Scooter, U 96, Culture Beat), DJ God (Camouflage, Die Fantastischen Vier) — hardly obscure figures in the worlds of techno and darkwave. So as not to irritate those who remain faithful to the old traditions, and to spark a glimmer of interest in those who care about the aforementioned musical directions, we'll cut short any further discussion of this remix compilation. And finally — 4 music videos (!), each of which is noteworthy for its imagery and symbolism. Of course, not everything is quite so flawless, but that is for each of you to judge. Man streitet uber die Geschmaecke nicht! (as they would say in CREMATORY's homeland)