THE CRÜXSHADOWS – Wishfire (CD 2002)

(Dancing Ferret/NovaMedia)

Endlich ein neues Album der Crüxshadows (www.cruxshadows.com) mit 14 Songs und einer Länge von 66 Minuten und einem zusätzlichen Video, welches sich auf einem PC oder Mac ansehen lässt.

Der erste Song "Before The Fire" führt den Zuhörer ruhig in das Album ein und nahtlos schließt sich direkt der erste Dancefloor Kracher "Return (Coming Home)" an. Für mich die logische nächste Singleauskopplung. Jeder schwarz angehauchte DJ sollte über diesen Song dankbar sein  Sehr markant ist wieder dieses Crüxshadows typische Geigenspiel, unterlegt mit einem stampfenden Beat und alles zusammen gehalten von Rogues ausdrucksvoller Stimme. Auch die nächsten Songs "Binary" und "The Seraphs" führen diesen Stil fort. Darauf folgt das ruhigere und sphärische "Spectators" bevor sich mit "Tears" die schon vorab veröffentliche Single, deren „Hit-Qualität“ ja bekannt sein sollte, anschließt. Mit dem siebenten Song "Go Away" des Albums wird es wieder ruhiger und es ist immer wieder beeindruckend, wie ausdrucksvoll Rogue seine Stimme einzusetzen weiß. Wobei ich hier erwähnen möchte, dass sich jeder, dem es möglich ist, die Band live ansehen und anhören sollte, denn es ist ein unvergleichliches Erlebnis, da Rogue sich als ein wahrer Entertainer präsentiert.. Zurück zum neuen Album: Mit "The 4th Phase" wird das Tempo wieder leicht angezogen und es beinhaltet wieder ein schönes Geigenspiel von Rachel. Nach dem etwas schwächeren "Earthfall" wird man mit "Orphean Wing" und dem zweistimmigen "Carnival" wieder versöhnt. Mit "Resist/r" wird erneut ganz klar der Clubeinsatz mit viel Strobolight anvisiert und die Rechnung geht vollends auf. Nach dem ruhigen, fast fernöstlich anmutenden "Roman" kommt mit "Spiral (Don't Fall) leider das Schlussstück dieses wunderbaren Albums. Der letzte Song wird durch die treibenden Gitarren von Stacey geprägt und macht Lust darauf, das Album noch einmal von vorn zu hören. Etwas Besseres kann man sicherlich nicht von einem Album erwarten. (Deathwalker)

THE CRÜXSHADOWS – Tears (CD-EP 2001)

( www.cruxshadows.com )

Here is another fine release of one of USA´s finest Gothic-Bands at the moment, THE CRÜXSHADOWS. „Tears“ contains 4 Remixes of the titlesong and three further tracks, plus a live video of „Tears“. This song is one of THE CRÜXSHADOWS poppiest moments ever and it has all chances to become a huge club hit all over the Gothic scene. First comes the normal version, which, in my opinion, is the best one. Then follows the „Apoptygma Berzerk Remix“, which really sounds a lot like the Norwegian Future-Pop act. „Within“ is a typical, very dancable CRÜXSHADOWS track. Next is the „Robbie Tronco/Knobhead Remix“ of „Tears“, again a very electronic version, but, because of the wonderful violin, with a very melancholic feeling. „Jabberwocky“ is a short, experimental piece of music, not really interesting. Then another version of „Tears“, remixed by Fictional, very 90s EBM-like and only interesting for the Clubs, but not for listening at home. Last track is „Heaven´s Gaze (Acoustic Tears Edit)“. This is a very fine, calm Song, again with the melancholic violin.

So, every fan will be satisfied, even, if this is a very Electronic based release. Anyway, Don´t miss THE CRÜXSHADOWS playing live, they are much better on stage. (A.P.)

THE CRÜXSHADOWS - Paradox Addendum (CD2001)

(www.ferret.com/discs)

US darlings THE CRÜXSHADOWS are back with another album, not a really new one, but a great one again. Some of the songs on this CD are known from their Europe tour and have been on the limited „Continental Drift“ CD. Anyway, „Paradox Addendum“ is a perfect link between the first two albums and the next one coming in 2002. The music is still something between Darkwave with many Electronic sounds and US-Gothic-Rock. The sound is sometimes very 80s-like, mostly because of singer Rogue´s charismatic voice. On this CD you can find wonderful songs like „Cruelty“ and the brilliant „Eurydice (Don´t Follow)“ or „Annabel Lee“, which is a poem by Edgar Allen Poe. Further tracks are „Love/Tragedy“, two mixes of „Heaven´s Gaze“ and finally „Ave Maria“.

As bonus, there is the videoclip of „Cruelty“ featured on the album as CD-Rom track, so every fan of the band will be satisfied. Even, if „Paradox Addendum“ is not the perfect beginning for people, who never heard a song of THE CRÜXSHADOW before (for those I would suggest the first two regular albums), every fan of this band will love this CD, so do I. Try to see this band live anywhere, they are really brilliant! (A.P.)

THE CRÜXSHADOWS - Live June, 22nd 2001 -  Hamburg, Kir

THE CRÜXSHADOWS had been featured in all big German Gothic/Darkwave-Magazines in the last months and so I was very curious about them. I knew their two CD-Albums and liked them, but I was sure, they would be a better Liveband, and so they are!!!

Hamburg was their first solo gig in Germany after they played the Zillo-Festival. Unfortunatly the audience was not very big at the Kir-Club, but, as a friend of mine said: „Not a big crowd, but the right people“, and he was absolutely right. These days are not too good for Gothic-Rock in Germany and especially in Hamburg, but the round about 40-50 people at the gig have seen a nearly perfect concert. The audience was in a totally party-mood and so they made this gig unforgettable. I am sure, that the band liked the atmosphere, too, even if they have been a bit disppointed before the concert, because of the very few people.

Anyway, the band started and the crowd was absolutely satisfied, hearing and seeing a real Gothic-Rock-band on stage (and singer Rogue often in the audience or climbing on tables and so on). CRÜXSHADOWS played all their hits like „Marylin My Bitterness“, „Monsters“ and many others and sold a lot of CDs and posters after the gig. They also hat to sign many of this merchandise then. Finally, let me say, that they are very nice people, so this Concert has been the best Gothic-Rock-gig for a very long time in Hamburg. Try to see the band in August at the second part of the Germany tour. (A.P.)

THE CRÜXSHADOWS - Intercontinental Drift (CD)

(Dancing Ferret Discs, www.ferret.com/discs, www.cruxshadows.com)

This special CD of US-Goth-Rockers THE CRÜXSHADOWS was released in a limited edition of 1000 copies especially for the first Europe Tour of the band in Summer 2001. It contains a collection of songs from the two albums, some in special Remixes/Versions, and some more material and was only sold at the concerts. The CD features some of the great dancefloor hits like „Monsters“ and „Marilyn My Bitterness“ and tracks like „Leave Me Alone“ and the brilliant cover of Eurythmics „Here Comes The Rain Again“. There is also the track „Täuschung“ (Deception), which is sung in German. As far as I understood in a talk with singer Rogue at their gig in Hamburg in June 2001, he lived some time in Germany in his youth.

Try to get this CD somewhere, if you can, I am sure, it will be a very collectable release soon. (A.P.)

THE CRÜXSHADOWS - Telemetry Of A Fallen Angel (CD)

(Dancing Ferret Discs, www.ferret.com/discs, www.cruxshadows.com)

„Telemetry...“ was the first album of US-Gothic-Rock-Shooting-Stars THE CRÜXSHADOWS, who actually toured Germany sucessfully. Every big magazine featured them and I think, they are one of the most interesting bands from the USA at the moment, even more, than Cinema Strange (and who talks about London After Midnight today?). The musical style is somewhere between Sex Gang Children, Wolfsheim, Alien Sex Fiend and also London After Midnight. Most of the melodies have a certain Pop-feeling and a lot of songs are very dancable, but all in all, THE CRÜXSHADOWS create their very own style out of all this influences and singer Rogue is very charismatic, especially on stage. „Telemetry...“ contains a lot of Gothic-Rock-Hits like the unforgettable „Marilyn My Bitterness“, the dancable „Monsters“ and many more. I am sure, that some of these tracks are actually played by many DJs in Germany. Most of the tracks have an huge electronic influence, which makes them sometimes very mainstream sounding (not meant in a negative way!), but live on stage, the band is more rocky, so you should not miss a gig of THE CRÜXSHADOWS, if you like US-Gothic-Rock!!! (A.P.)