Description

Christian Death – Iconologia – Cassette

Christian Death is a seminal gothic rock band originally led by Rozz Williams, known for pioneering the American deathrock scene. Their influential albums often delve into themes of religion, death, and existential despair, interwoven with a mix of gothic and post-punk elements.

Albums like ‘Only Theatre of Pain,’ ‘Catastrophe Ballet,’ and ‘Ashes’ are among their most acclaimed works. Exploring these can provide a comprehensive view of Christian Death’s contributions to gothic rock.

In the middle of pursuing his various goth/glam efforts and using the Christian Death name even while Valor Kand was still leading his own version of the group, Rozz Williams finally did the right thing and got the original lineup back together again for a one-off concert. Bassist James McGearty sat it out, replaced by one Casey, but otherwise it was Williams, Rikk Agnew, and George Belanger together again, with Rikk’s brother Frank adding some guitars as well.

Iconologia captures the end result, logically concentrating on Only Theatre of Pain material but with a few ringers as well, including two honest-to-goodness new songs by this particular lineup. Casey actually gets the first word with the introductory ‘Excommunicamus,’ a collage of samples that purees everything from sex squeals and church choirs to invocations of Satan and destruction, but after that it’s full-band business galore. Kicking off like Only Theatre did, with ‘Cavity — First Communion,’ the revitalized quartet tears into everything with the appropriate punk-inspired energy.

Williams wisely doesn’t try to replicate his 1982-era singing, instead favoring his higher, clearly Bowie-inspired quaver and jettisoning the bored moaning; he sounds like he’s having the time of his life. Agnew shows no slack either, cranking out some great, freaky solos when he’s so inclined, while Casey and Belanger keep the band and enthusiastic crowd moving. When it comes to the new songs, ‘Cry Baby’ makes for a nicely fried glammy treat, while ‘Some Men/The Other’ is even more so, an explicit early Bowie tribute that works wonders. In a telling homage to roots, Lou Reed’s excoriating ‘Kill Your Sons’ gets a strong runthrough, accompanied by an amusing intro from Williams.

Triple X Records

Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic but small promo hole in barcode

Song List
1. Excommunicamus
2. Cavity 1st Communion
3. Figurative Theatre
4. Cry Baby
5. Dream For Mother
6. Deathwish
7. Some Men / Other, The
8. Mysterium Iniquitatis
9. Kill Your Sons
10. Stairs (Uncertain Journey)
11. Spiritual Cramp
12. Resurrection 6th Communion – (with Sixth Communion)
13. Sleepwalk
14. Romeo’s Distress
15. Dogs