Vampyrique

I love the film! I've never read the book but I've always wanted to since I'm a big fan of the film. The novel of Nineteen Eighty-Four is outstanding and the film versions aren't bad either.

I'm in the process of building a proper book collection and here is my recent tripleplusgood order of dystopian fiction: Nineteen-Eighty Four A Clockwork Orange Fahrenheit 451 Never read the book but as a huge fan of Lynch I can say that his version of Dune was a lot better than the Alan Smithee version at least

Darkness of Blood - A Dream of Vampires in Astral Dementia Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast Cradle of Filth - The Principle of Evil Made Flesh Theatres des Vampires - Bloody Lunatic Asylum The blood is the life! I'm not sure which album would complete my list but I'll think about it and add it in later; most likely an album from Burzum, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir or My Dying Bride.

I don't listen to all of metal's sub-genres and haven't explored each one thoroughly so I would find it difficult to rank them. 1. Gothic metal, by my own definition, is without a doubt my favourite sub-genre of metal. It's dark, passionate, and full of atmosphere. Many of my favourite bands and releases fall within the gothic realm. 2. Black Metal would follow closely behind. There is no shortage of great releases so it's not surprising that it is the most prolific sub-genre within my collection. The variety found within black metal ensures that I will never get bored of it. 3. Death metal is a style I certainly enjoy but often a lack of variety or memorability within albums can render this genre a distant third. Although I really like old school death metal, my death metal favourites tend to be the type of bands who incorporate outside influences much like Akercocke has previously done to give it a unique 'flavour'. As for the rest: I don't listen to much traditional doom metal but I really enjoy death-doom in the form of The Peaceville Three and, generally, bands who play in a similar vein. Traditional heavy metal and power metal possess some appeal and potential to win me over but it's a genre that I need to delve deeper into than just the handful of bands that I listen to. Folk and Viking metal can be hit and miss with me; usually fine if it is infused with black metal. Depending on definitions I don't mind some nu metal and even enjoy a couple of bands despite not liking a lot of the outward fronting and genre idiosyncrasies. I don't mind glam/hair metal from what I've heard but I've never bothered to really check it out beyond a couple of bands like Twisted Sister; I would expect that I wouldn't like a lot of it. I think thrash metal is alright but it's never held much appeal to me. I enjoy some Slayer but there's something about thrash in general, like some styles of punk, that is off-putting to me; perhaps it is the drumming that maintains too consistent a tempo and the frantic nature of the music that exudes a sort of sonic hyperventilation that is not compatible with me.

I like the song but initially I was disappointed with it and I believe this was due to expectation. You may recall that this was the crown jewel of Dani's during the recording of the Hammer of the Witches album but the band had downvoted it. I wonder by how much the song differs in its current form? The only part I don't care for is the lazy chorus: "...Irrefutable...achingly Beautiful." It seems it could have been improved upon.

A guest in your flat wouldn't suspect you were a music lover because no music lover would ever do such a thing as you have! Oh the horror!

I love those ambient tracks, always have! I would also side with Filosofem.

Oh Requiem, you fell victim to my incredible sarcasm! I know that their justification is weak and meaningless. They might go to a few local shows, buy a few shirts and give themselves a pat on the back and carry out their righteous license to download, morals by the wayside!

Hah! If that's the case with Darkly, I shudder to think what happened with The Manticore... Then there's Moonspell's double-album-turned-bonus-album idea. Who would only buy Alpha Noir and not Omega White? But those parasites go to shows and buy t-shirts to support the artists they love, right? I would love to see their shirt collections. They must have a few hundred shirts, if not over a thousand shirts. And imagine the stories of the hundreds of shows they've been to.

Haha! What can I say, choirs are hit and miss with me. I think they've got Lindsay on a leash because they don't want another Deva situation... I'm not sure what to think about bonus tracks. They're the b-sides for non-existent singles so I'm glad they're there. Sometimes a bands' judgment is bad and bonus tracks can be better than album tracks. However, I dislike random live songs, remixes, and when they include demo-versions of some songs but not others. I think the designation of bonus/extra track is so people don't criticize the album proper on the basis of these bonus tracks because people can be idiots. Now, what I really hate is this: Standard edition - no bonus tracks! Deluxe digipak edition - 2 bonus track + bonus DVD! Limited fan edition - 3 bonus tracks, bonus DVD, 3 postcards, XXXL t-shirt (even if you're not obese), useless 3d holographic card, tacky badge and one anklesock personally worn by the lead singer for only $100! Japanese edition - 3 bonus tracks + 1 exclusive bonus track that you'll never ever hear anywhere else but here!

I'm surprised that The Night at Catafalque Manor is a bonus track. This is one of the album's best songs. The middle section harkens back to classic-era Cradle of Filth! Normally I find the addition of choirs to be dreadfully cheesy and overblown as if compiled of leftovers from Hollywood blockbusters but the Czechs did a great job.

I'm eagerly awaiting my physical copy but I've already listened to it. I really like it and the return to less conventional song structures. It's not nearly as melodic and catchy as Hammer was but more aggressive and darker. I think they could have used Lindsay a bit more but I like it more than Hammer.

You may know that The Fire Still Burns is a Twisted Sister cover. Naturally, V Empire's competition is Theatres des Vampires' Iubilaeum Anno Dracula 2001. I find V Empire more dynamic, romantic and poetic than Dusk. I enjoy the prominent use of Dani's pitch shifted vocals and I think the interplay between he and Sarah is better. Dusk has a different vibe but is equally compelling.

Thought criminal! Arrest this woman!

Ha! The idea of being able to actually paint? That's so two hundred years ago. These days, it's not really about art; rather, it's about feeling important and unleashing your inner elitist. It's about who you know. Sipping expensive wine and hobnobbing with the wealthy and the superficial. Showing off your ability to see the sophisticated intellect behind seemingly random blotches of ink or the three-dimensional profundity behind a red 2D square. If you walk into an empty room and can only see a plastic spoon resting awkwardly on a blue chair as it is literally displayed, you've only revealed your inner limitations.

Hah, a-maizing. That's interesting, maybe it wasn't meant to be? Or maybe third time's a charm? I think I recall encountering a similar phenomenon but I forget which album it was and under what circumstance. hmm...

I've actually never tried to rank the EPs before but I've got the same result as you. 4. Evermore Darkly is basically rubbish if I'm judging the music portion. The EP should have been called "You Can't Polish a Turd, But You Can Roll It in Glitter" instead of the documentary. Nuff said. 3. From the Cradle to Enslave is more of a typical EP with assorted songs and a very good one at that. They went for a different production here that lends the music some heaviness without eliminating the atmosphere. How many drummers played on this EP? The title track is one of their best. On my iPod I always tack on Dawn of Eternity. 2. Bitter Suites to Succubi, despite being album-length, functions like an EP. The interludes are not very good by Cradle standards. All Hope in Eclipse, Born in a Burial Gown, Suicide and Other Comforts are excellent stuff. The rest is fairly good. On my iPod, I always tack on The Fire Still Burns (from Livebait) since it's from the same recording session. 1. V Empire is classic Cradle of Filth and tied for best EP I've ever heard. It functions like an album and is just as convincing despite being about 36 mins or so. The first three tracks are especially good. I even favour this one over Dusk...

You might be right... Maybe I'm living in a bubble. Didn't Cradle release an album called Cornography? I think it came in the form of canned Allender (if that doesn't best describe his lack of inspiration)...creamed by Mark Newby corn-on-the-Cobson. But enough vampunnery for now. I don't think The 69 Eyes are on the cringeworthy level. I said OperaNoire was for being about as fresh as a necrophile's bride-to-be. I mean, is that a discount bin clone of Marilyn Manson miming to the voice an Italian counterfeit Pete Steele? But either one is still leagues better than those horrid EBM bands that ruined everything. Aside from a few popular bands, it's very hard to find anyone who likes this kind of music...

I figured as much. I tend to side with jangly guitars, and synth wherever possible! To be honest, I don't know much about The 69 Eyes other than what I have heard from them so I'm not really offering any in-depth criticism. But they never did much for me and I thought they were too derivative of other bands and of stereotypes from within goth scenes so much that I wasn't sure if they were a parody band or not. That's why the Brandon Lee title stood out to me in a bad way although I never read the lyrics. Aside from the videos you posted, the last time I heard anything from them was about ten years ago. At least with say Type O Negative, they clearly had a sense of humour and had carved out their own niche. I'm alright with a band making the odd ode but I have a tendency to wince when I hear something that sounds too much like worship of The Sisters of Mercy, Type O Negative, Fields of the Nephilim and the like because it's all too common that those bands get plagiarized so that's probably a part of it. Maybe I'll give them another chance some day. Ever hear of the band OperaNoire? They did a video, a cover of David Bowie's Heroes. Serious or not, they're just too cringeworthy for me! But I suppose for me it's all in delivery. Vampires can be interpreted in many different ways but I've never thought Cradle of Filth were cheesy or corny with the way they addressed (overused) themes like vampires because I thought it was done tastefully like in gothic literature. I remember what Soma is but don't remember the novel Brave New World as much I'd want to so I didn't make the direct connection with the lyrics. But I can appreciate where you're coming from there because Manson once sang "a rebel from the waist down" clearly a nod to 1984. I like Manson's new album mostly because it's better than his recent stuff, but it isn't anywhere close to as good as his incredible run in the 90s. Maybe I can take some pics and PM you. My place still needs some revamping.

@Requiem Is it that you prefer it to be more rock influenced than post-punk influenced? Heavier guitars than jangly reverb? Do you like Floodland or Vision Thing by The Sisters of Mercy? I'll admit that I've never liked The 69 Eyes but I'm not overly familiar with them beyond a handful of songs. I had a couple of friends who really liked them but I always thought they came off as disingenuous to me. Like a product aimed at goth girls; Pete Steele fronting The Sisters of Mercy with a strong hair metal vibe. Didn't they write lyrics about Brandon Lee? I like The Crow but that's a bit too sub-culturally cliche for me! I never got into Charon either. They kind of remind me of earlier HIM but without that special something, perhaps HIM's flamboyance? I'm definitely a fan of Tiamat though. Clouds and The Astral Sleep were my favourites of theirs for years but now I'm not sure which are now. It took me a while to come around to liking their later stuff, ironically. I've read Brave New World once before many years ago but I need to read it again someday as I only vaguely remember the concept and details, and that it was a very bleak world without hope. I read 1984 right after and preferred Orwell's dystopian vision. I think it had more charm to it and I liked the fact that it simultaneously felt very archaic and yet futuristic. Doubleplusgood! On a side note: Marilyn Manson's new album is probably the best he's done since '03. It's very Bauhausian on a couple of songs, one song reminds me of Bela Lugosi's Dead. Not a perfect album by any means but album of the year for me!

And who could forget the poetic genius of Rozz Williams with the artsy deathrock band Christian Death... The luxury of tears. What a crescendo! Later on Rozz went in a more glam rock direction on the brilliant album The Path of Sorrows: And the very touching song Flowers, RIP:

Found the full episode albeit low quality if anyone wants to see. "...jesus Grish, you really blew it with that vampire bollocks" lol "...so yes...I developed an interest in the pagan deity He With No Name..." lol, that look on his face is just priceless (as he looks around to see if anyone is buying his bullshit) http://www.veoh.com/watch/v405073StCtCFCE @Requiem Razorblade Romance is definitely my favourite HIM album. I need to buy the original edition that has the song One Last Time. Why on earth did they take this song off for the other editions? Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 is also an excellent album and the song The Beginning of the End is among their best. I have to admit HIM kinda lost me when they went in a more radio friendly direction. I thought they became a parody of their former selves and very hit and miss at times. Some cool songs: Siouxsie and the Banshees team up with Danny Elfman for Batman Returns soundtrack as well as the very elegant London After Midnight, club-friendly Suspiria and the opening track from The Cure's dreamy, beautiful album Disintegration.

@Requiem I'm surprised you don't listen to more of the traditional goth stuff. It would seem to me to be up your alley. Time to resurrect this thread's undead corpse. Couldn't find the whole episode but here is a clip of something I saw many years ago:

I wasn't into the scene then but I wasn't aware that Rebel was a template of sorts for Thorns. I'm not saying you're wrong but I assumed that Satyr's main role/influence was getting Snorre into the studio to actually write and record something because if not for Satyr (and friends) pushing Snorre, he wouldn't have bothered. Snorre has always struck me as a shy loner type who wasn't very confident or driven, also probably not much of a 'metalhead'. Satyr was probably more excited for the idea of a new Thorns album than Snorre was! Of course they had cameos on each other's albums and helped one another but the impression I've always gotten is that the Norwegian scene was very intertwined with bands constantly sharing ideas and influencing each other. Writing/recording for the Thorns album began in '98 which would place it in a similar time frame with Rebel Extravaganza despite coming much out later. I've always thought Rebel Extravaganza was an oddity in Satyricon's catalogue. Aside from Satyricon's general idiosyncrasies it doesn't really contain much of the more melodic, folk/medieval atmospheres of the first three albums nor does it resemble the more stripped down rock-ish sound of the last few. I've always thought it paired better with the Thorns album. Collectively though, what an interesting time for Norwegian black metal. ps. Don't feel too embarrassed about HIM! I do like some of their stuff too. Actually, I really like the first two albums. The albums after are kinda hit and miss with me. I'll make a post with my thoughts about select lists/albums you've ranked in your lists when I get the chance.

They got compared to Cradle of Filth a lot (hence why I became a fan in the first place) but I always thought the two were very different despite sharing some commonalities.