Search - Various Artists :: Gothic Vampires From Hell & Covered Goth

Spooky elements served up well.

Michael A. Ventarola | New Jersey | 11/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"CD: Covered in Goth/Gothic Vampires From Hell
Artist: Various Artists
Reviewed by: Mike VentarolaFor those of you who really enjoy the whole vampire genre, this specially priced 2 CD set is the one to run out and buy. Quite frankly, at the half way mark of 2001, this set ranks at the top 5 of my list of compilations that one should have in their dark music collection.Initially I was not too hopeful that the Covered in Goth compilation of cover songs was going to be much merit. I purchased this item merely on the desire to have the Vampire CD, as this is a genre that is near and dear to my heart, and often the toughest to locate anything of merit. Whatever connotations and reservations you may have about covered songs, wipe it from your mind and just trust that this is THE set to own. The list of contributing artists reads like a who's who in the underground, yet they all expertly gave their own interpretation to some of the finest songs. Cleopatra brilliantly scoured the other tribute compilations that they have and seemed to have put the best track from each one on this set for the most part.The second CD, Gothic Vampires From Hell, on the other hand is a deliriously delightful bit of decadence that is from the school of Midnight Syndicate, A Murder of Angels, and Graeme Revelle all rolled into one dark delicious ball of nightmarish sound. This CD is an instrumental work with eerie sound effects that up to now, only the above named artists could pull off with any sense of finesse. Each song segues into the next as one long composition, which is interspersed with episodic recitations from the late Rozz Williams. There is also the added closing track, "Dracula Revisits" from Two Witches, which is also an instrumental piece. The only information I was able to glean about the creator of this marvelous disc came from Tim Dooner of Cleopatra Records: "The artist who did that piece is known only as Minister Cue (Q). There is no bio on this artist, however this piece is a triopic and after the 3rd segment Rev. Q will reveal his/her identity." In essence, if Minister Cue (Q) should happen to read this review, it is essential to know that you have won a hardcore fan to your camp and I anticipate further releases to feed my dark crimson passions. This entire composition exudes a nightmarish seduction that is frequently overlooked or avoided in the darkwave ethereal genres. Many artists have simply tossed their hats in the ring to go the Synthpop route, leaving the dark music aficionados to fend for ourselves while we dutifully scour all music outlets for dark soundscapes to soothe our impassioned souls. It is pointless to go through a track-by-track review simply because one feeds off the next in a delightful array of morbidity. The music releases a feeling of mental cinemascope of the grandest scale, perceptibly coloring and shading every nuance that a score of this scale could ever hope to paint. From start to finish, this brilliant orchestral composition recreates the atmosphere to such a level of the macabre, that it is highly recommended to listen with the lights off and the candles lit. For those of you who do not live on your own, you will simply have to imagine being locked in your own private castle in the nether reaches of your mind. In any event, you do owe it to yourself to have a musical vampire vacation that this disc can provide.
It is not too often that something touted and marketed to the vampire genre actually reaches the expectation of the consumer, but this 2 cd set delivered quite more for the money than was ever anticipated and was definitely money well spent."

Dark, decadent, and oh so worth it!

D. Wilson | Oshkosh, WI USA | 12/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just picked up this little gem today. Now, I am not big on tribute albums, but the tracks on the "cover" CD (most of which were taken directly from Cleopatra's many tribute discs) are very well executed. They maintain the integrity of the originals, but at the same time integrate the performer's own style flawlessly. I was particularly impressed with Apoptygma Berserk's rendition of Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters". What was originally a heavy metal band's token accoustic piece has been transformed into a lush, darkwave ballad that drips with depressive atmosphere.
The "Gothic Vampires From Hell" disc in this set evokes the engossing, spine-tingling ambience of any well-composed horror film soundtrack. This listener is whisked away to the musty, oppressive darkness of the catacombs in search of the dreaded vampire. This disc is a thriller for the ears. I highly recommend it."

Excellent background music, many tracks very ambient!

WC Alaska | Alaska, USA | 09/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm old enough to to have played in bands in the 70's and 80's so I considered most newer alternative music junk and tax write off music for the corporate labels. When my brother lent me the album to listen to, I gave it a spin. Disk1 was good, but for ambience, and background listening, disk2 is excellent. There's a lot of stuff that reminds me of Michael Stearns and Tangerine Dream. There are a couple on side2 that remind me even of the soundtrack for Dune! Very spacey. Sometimes, at work I'll put on disk2 to soothe me after a very hectic day while I'm setting up my next day's assignments or while responding to emails. Surprised? You bet I am. So, I grudgingly admit, this is a very fun album, don't let the cover scare you off! No kidding!"