GARDEN OF DELIGHT

I never would have thought that a gothic rock release could surprise me this much. The style, as I assumed, doesn't allow for too much melodic variability — all the main notes have long been played — but no, this international collective (members from Germany, France, and Ireland) truly surprises. How exactly? It's hard to say right away, because the basic criteria characterizing most gothic rock bands are fully observed here too and are present in full. Perhaps it's all about their unique combination, perhaps it's the powerful occult subtext that the band slips into every release since 1991, or perhaps the reason lies in something else entirely. The listener will have to figure it out for themselves; I will merely offer an approximate orientation. The rhythm features a hard, precise electro beat. The guitar is heavier than standard gothic rock fare — far more severe and aggressive. The vocals are raspy, fairly low and deep, occasionally descending into a whisper. There is a wealth of pulsing electronic tricks and sounds, meaning the music will appeal not only to fans of guitar-driven goth. Overall, the material has a certain unpolished quality, a deliberate rawness in which you can hear the band's undisguised genuine disdain for Christianity and attraction to all things mysterious and occult. A magnificent release, worthy of being a frequent visitor in the player of any self-respecting goth.