Search - Electric Hellfire Club :: Empathy for the Devil

Hellfire returns in time for Halloween!

defaultet | Arizona, USA | 10/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just in time for the Halloween season, the Electric Hellfire Club has returned with a compilation of Satanic cover songs, out-of-print material, and two new songs produced by Abaddon of black metal legends Venom. Liner notes by singer Thomas Thorn chronicle the band's evolution from a predominantly electronic industrial band ostracized by the "industrial" community to the current incarnation of the band and its embrace of heavy metal influences. Now to the music: Disc 1 is comprised of cover tunes available on an assortment of worthless Cleopatra comps so you can have all EHC without industrial/goth filler. If you are not familiar with EHC they combine elements of industrial dance with psychedelic keyboards and liberal doses of metal. The song material is notoriously dark and considered campy by many, with many songs glorifying Satan, Charles Manson, pagan themes, drug use, etc. The "Sympathy for the Devil" cover is somewhat standard but nonetheless has some new elements and is an excellent cover. This song has already been covered by Laibach and others so the novelty is not quite there. EHC does a startling cover of the Cure's "Killing An Arab"-sure to enrage Cure fans the world over. Then is a loyal tribute to "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC. Topping the disc off is two Abaddon produced tracks showcasing the band's transition into more of a traditional rock/metal band. The guitars were always there, but now they are properly recorded and layered into the music. Imagine the power a song like "Age of Fire" off of EHC's first full-length album would have with the thrash metal guitars brought to the forefront. EHC has in many ways reached an ideal in their sound: industrial dance mixed with a solid dose of black metal. The writing was on the blood-drenched walls with the predominantly metal tour supporting the Unholy Roller tour last year. New song "The Bishop's Folly", about a bishop who loses his faith and embraces his dark side, reaches a spiritual euphoria midway thru the song with unconventional guitar work by Riktor Ravensbruck and the trademark EHC plodding electronic(?)basslines. On Disc 2 is a great gift to EHC fans unlucky enough to not have found the "Trick or Treat" limited edition ep. It consists of a dance mix featuring a reworking of John Carpenter's Halloween theme, a cover of "Bela Lugosi's Dead", and a cover of Type O Negative's "Black No. 1". This set is for die-hard EHC fans, fans of industrial covers, and new fans alike. However, an unexperienced EHC listener would be best served by picking up "Burn, Baby Burn" and "Kiss The Goat" first. Also of interest is Psychopomps "Six Six Six Nights in Hell" album. Hail Hellfire!"

Great Holiday Musick!

Draconis Blackthorne | The Haunted Noctuary | 05/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's no reason why you cannot celebrate Halloween all year 'round, as many of us already aesthetically do --- the very cover depicts what one would expect to see on a Halloween effects album, which initially drew Me to it in particular in the first place, as I'm always looking for Hallows tunes - jaunty, eerie, silly, or serious.



A smiling Jack-o-Lantern adorns the cover, placed on the customized EHC Baphomet. Inside, elucidating liner notes, a veritable essay & evolutionary prognostication by Reverend Thomas Thorn, as to the future development of the band.



Here, some of the all-time classics of infamy are covered in a playfully diabolical way, from horror movies to devilish Heavy Metal & Gothic bands demonized by xoids, which ignited much of the furor in the highly satanophobic 80's.

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Disc One



1. Sympathy For The Devil



The Rolling Stones classic, said to be the first Rock'N'Roll song to fully anknowledge The Prince of Darkness as Lucifer, "Minister of Music" --- the song to which a veritable sacrifice, a blood ritual baptism occurred in Altamont, CA, where Hell's Angels took their prey.



2. Killing The Arab



As it was related to this writer, a Cure cover which may vent against Circle-K or 7-11 vendors, or Middle-Eastern oil embargos; whether or not it is a misconception, generally referring to all people of Middle-Eastern descent as "arabs", which they are obviously not. Keep in mind that this is a cover song, so the lyrical content may not be necessarily shared by EHC, but may have in fact been posted by one Robert Smith.



3. Highway To Hell



AC/DC classic which celebrates the indulgent & passionate ride to the swirling Abyss, & was also a favorite of The Nightstalker Richard Ramirez, & Myself. Do the bells toll for thee?

4. Shout At The Devil



A headbanging good time is promised with this one, with a delighful twist; a cavalcade of sounds. The original recording is also part of My collection.



5. Devil Inside



Underrated song by INXS, which reminds that the Devil is indeed "within every single one of us..." --- the Lust of Life, lest humanimality forget......



Michael Hutchins, singer for INXS, killed himself in an auto-erotic attempt to an incredible neo-necrogasm. For this, I can see the image of Hutchins crucified, with the name of the band written above the cross, in place of "INRI".

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Disc 2



1. Halloween Medley {first time on CD} / 2. Halloween Theme



A familiar variation written by John Carpenter for his landmark movie by the same name. Before this release, this Halloween medley became a Samhein regular at shows. Just as eerie, with a drumbeat added.



3. Incubus



From 'Kiss The Goat' {this Author's favorite EHC release}, which I came into possession under a red night sky, 'Incubus' is the lingam kundalini unleashed upon the ethers by the Passions of Pan & Priapus.

4. Bela Lugosi's Dead



A Bauhaus cover - gives recognition to one of the progenitors of Gothic Rock, & a tribute to the silver screen's most infamous horror actor who played the most infamous horror character, Dracula. Lugosi so personafied the portrayal, he was even buried in his cape-- now that's dedication!



Despite the flack this song has received as being identified with "gothabe's" {goth-wanna'be poseurs who are 'bad bunnies' looking for cheap thrills by merely dressing in black, thus diluting the underground scene}, EHC adds a nice touch with this version.



5. Black No. 1



The cover song of another one of this Author's favorite bands, Type 0 Negative {especially "Bloody Kisses", "October Rust", & "Slow, Deep & Hard"}; I really enjoyed this version.

6. Incubus reprise



Another version of that great 'Kiss The Goat' song.



I enjoyed the way the songs blended & bled together, giving the senses delightful surprises, as one gently overlaps the other like satano-sonic waves.



The one song that I enjoyed most on this double-CD set was undoubtably #6/Disc 1: "The Bishop's Folly", which is an EHC original. And if this is any indication of what is to come {which in fact, it is}, then there surely is a lot to expect.



Hardcore EHC fans will want this in their collections, but for the novice & unfamiliar to the band, you may wish to first purchase "Kiss The Goat", "Satan's Little Helpers", "Calling Dr. Luv", & "Holy Roller."



To become acquainted with Reverend Thorn's musical evilution, seek out "My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult", which incidently, inspired & influenced one Rev. Marilyn Manson.



In My opinion, The best way to experience EHC is through headphones, as it is filled with such a plethora of sounds that should not be missed."

Excellent rock soundtrack for a Halloween night.

Matt | Damnation | 07/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am lucky enough to own most of this material on their "Trick or Treat" 7" but if you aren't one of the 1000 to have either this or the subsequent "promotional" CD version, then "Empathy" is just what you've been waiting for.The material on disc one is comprised mostly of covers culled from various tribute albums put out by Cleopatra records over the years. If you're strictly an EHC fan and aren't fond of the gothic/darkwave genre then here you go, all EHC covers put onto one convenient little disc. It also contains a little sample of their latest release and the previously unreleased cover of INXS's "Devil Inside".The second disc is a Halloween medley containing the previously hard to find "Trick or Treat" stuff. Their cover of the theme from "Halloween" is spot-on and blends seemlessly into the rest of the songs on this disc. I would have preferred that this disc be divided into individual tracks and not just one big medley, however. Their cover of Type O Negative's "Black No.1" is one of my favorite songs here and I can't skip ahead to it without holding down the fast forward button on my CD player. Also, this disc comes minus the Leaether Strip remix of "Incubus" which was on the original vinyl release.All in all "Empathy for the Devil" is a great collection of songs predominately for EHC's fans and it's a great display of the sense of humor and fun that this band possesses."