Reviews (22)

Appropriate for V:tM, as well as for general unlife...
While I've heard a few tracks from this album, I'm still counting the coins to pay for it and its shipping.
Good music, bad game.
As a real old-school goth- one who was listening to gothic music and dressing in goth-style thrift clothes in 1983- I have to say this is a good music compilation. Each song is a good representative of the goth subculture, though a bit too modern to be a real sampler of goth.
I have a split personality, and this CD made me realize it!
Ok, I absolutely LOVE this CD. I am no where NEAR being anything of a goth epicurian, and after listening to this CD I immediately looked for each artists' websites and/or music clips online. Sadly, I didn't find anything else that really peaked my ears like this CD did. I have to hand it to the complitation team, they did an AMAZING job of picking out songs that - I feel - were of a specific aura and putting them in one spot. MAKE MORE!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Goth Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop Collections   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (23)

Wonderful
I purchased this album yesturday and simply can't get enough of it.
excellent
A nice mixture of different dark styles. From the usual suspects of Spahn Ranch, Ministry, Bauhaus and Switchblade Symphony to some of less well known stars of the dark side.
fine compilation of Goth and industrial music
I suppose it's difficult to please fans of Goth, who tend to look on the gloomy side of things by definition, but I think this collection is very good!There are four CDs in a nice case and the extensive liner notes are quite informative and entertaining.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Dark Ambient    3. Electro-Industrial    4. Experimental    5. Goth Rock    6. Industrial    7. Industrial Dance    8. Industrial Metal    9. Industrial/Gothic    10. New Wave    11. Pop    12. Post-Punk    13. Rock    14. V/a Compilations   

Reviews (4)

Complete Track and Artist List
CD1 Half "eh", half "omigawd".
I agree -- if you're into anything approximating bigbeat or aggro or industrial or metal or... anything with THUD, stop reading & buy the CD. The whole thing is remixes, all 24 tracks, and there's a little good-spirited give-&-take as the chopper on one track becomes the source on another. Worthwhile notes from the remix wars
Briefly: an excellent and well-rounded collection of remixes of industrial/electronic artists BY other industrial/electronic artists.And where else are you going to find Sheep On Drugs, Autechre, Dub Pistols, Psychic TV and The Prodigy in one compilation?What, you haven't clicked ADD TO CART yet? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acid House    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Ambient Techno    4. Club/Dance    5. Dance Music    6. Electronica    7. Experimental Techno    8. IDM    9. Industrial    10. Industrial Dance    11. Jungle/Drum'n'bass    12. Pop    13. Popular Music    14. Rock/Pop Collections    15. Techno    16. Trip-Hop   

Reviews (1)

A great look at Industrial
It's suprising to see K-Tel still in exhistence, and even more surprising to see an Industrial Compilation from them..What's even more surprising is the fact that it's a great compilation.It covers almost the entire span including the rawer stuff from the early 80's (Einsturzende, Chrome, Throbbing Gristle) all the way up to the later 21st Century stuff (Apoptygma)Anyone who has been interested in Industrial has eventually gone out and looked for every band on this list.Here's an Industrial comp that represents the music and not a particular label.I would definitely recommend this to the younger tribe just starting out, or the older tribe looking for a quick nastalgia fix. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Experimental    3. Experimental Rock    4. Industrial    5. Industrial Dance    6. Industrial Metal    7. Pop    8. Rock   

Reviews (28)

Brilliant
Tiffany with Front Line Assembly on 'new years day'.That track is worth the purchase.

Best U2 Tribute CD You Can Buy!!!!
If you like U2 and you like techno/punk, this album is for you.It's not a bunch of bands trying to imitate or sound just like the real thing.These artists have taken U2's songs and made them their own.They are all very different from the original, but close enough that you can still sing along.A must have for any serious U2 fan.

Not too bad...
I bought this because U2 is the best band on the planet ever.Period.And I enjoy hearing how other musicians interpret U2's songs.I gave it a 3 stars simply because they are great songs, but there are some on here that are [not so good].The band that covers "With or Without You" should be taken... but only after being tortured with their song for a couple of days. Everything else is pretty good.I really enjoy "Numb" -- very [nice].This is a great addition to the collection of any big U2 fan.If you enjoy tribute albums the same label that put out this album has Bauhaus and New Order tributes too.Both excellent and really live up to being called tributes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Dance-Pop    3. Electro-Industrial    4. Goth Rock    5. Industrial    6. Industrial Dance    7. Pop    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop Collections   

Reviews (9)

The dead still can dance.
Dead Can Dance is that kind of band you can�t review by this time. You can only watch its beauty, listen to that immortal music and voices of Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. This is a legend, which we have to respect and pay worships. "The Carnival Within" is an obvious tribute to simply unearthly band, the one strange thing is that CD is single. The selection of bands is uncommonly felicitous, but not all songs deserve the prototype. Maybe because it�s impossible to get close to that inimitable ideal, which is Dead Can Dance. Maybe because songs of "The Carnival Within" should be more delicate as the object of tribute, because very often hard notes are breaking out in sudden places; in short here goes a storm without storm warning. Heart was bleeding for "Cantara" and "Yulunga" over lack of customary heavenly vocals and adorable clear percussion in their rehashes. Something like relief was given by Rhea�s Obsession, Javroe & PBK and Surface 10 with Athan Maroulis. In "Mesmerism" Rhea�s Obsession kept subtly those elusive notes of gothic charm, at the same time being themselves. "I Can See Now" by Javroe and PBK is agreeable for ears by soft singing and original sound.As for Athan Maroulis, he�s not guilty for that his voice is familiar with vocals of Brendan Perry, and so his soloing in "Ulysses" was rather effective and realized. Leaether Strip had wildly fabulous sound in "Carnival is over", but, sorry, I laughed when I�ve heard a whisper instead of speaking at least.

Worth it to me
This CD is worth it for the Leaetherstrip version of the "Carnival is Over".The whole thing is very mellow and atmospheric.It's not as good as DCD, but if you recognize and like these bands, you'll probably like this CD.

PLEASANT ENOUGH
Although some of these covers tend towards the forgettable, this is a pleasant enough album. The delightful exceptions include the magnificent Ulysses by Surface 10 - a very impressive version with its solemn world-weary male voice and beautiful arrangement, the aggressive/erotic punk Cantara by Evil Mothers and the spooky, whispered Carnival Is Over by Leather Strip. And why is The Unbiquitous Mr Lovegrove covered twice? Far better candidates for memorable cover versions would have been Persephone (The Gathering Of Flowers) or The Host Of Seraphim. I can understand that DCD fanatics won't appreciate this album, but the above three tracks make it worthwhile. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Dream Pop    3. Goth Rock    4. Industrial Dance    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop Collections    8. World Music   

Reviews (20)

An ok tribute album
I have never really been crazy about The Doors. To me, some of their songs have a tendency to be too long. Secondly, I am not a classic rock fan. I bought "Darken My Fire" because I loved the two Madonna tribute albums and the Tori Amos tribute album that Cleopatra Records released a few years ago so I thought "Darken My Fire" would be something of interest. In general I think Cleopatra Records has gone overboard with the tribute albums and really needs to take a break from churning out more tribute albums. "Darken My Fire" is interesting to say the very least however I wouldn't rank it as good as the two Madonna tribute albums or even comes close to the Tori Amos tribute album. It just lacked the magic that I felt that the other tribute albums for Madonna and Tori Amos had. There were a lot of hits and misses. I loved The Mission Uk's interpretation of "Love Me Two Times". It was very dark and sinister. I also liked Nosferatu's "People Are Strange" (my favorite song by The Doors), and Mephisto Waltz's "Peace Frog". I didn't like The Newlydeads' "Hello, I Love You". Although I never liked the song to begin with but at least I thought The Doors' version was ten times better which is saying a lot. I wasn't wild about Eating Crow's "L.A Woman" or The Electric Hellfire Club's "Light My Fire". I think The Doors' music is like New Order and Depeche Mode, don't cover their music because no one can out do the original versions. Thanks to tribute albums like "Darken My Fire", I consider tribute albums nowadays so unbelievably cheesy and pointless.

Proto-goth!
Been WAITING for a buncha goths to make this exact album and honor these guys properly! A decent effort for Cleopatra. Some weak spots as usual (I would love to find one compilation that doesn't have the Electric Hellfire Club on it), but the stronger songs make the album worth buying, at least a used copy. Even darker than the Doors?
Various groups perform gothic interpretations of Doors' songs in this CD; another way to describe the music, with its murky instrumental and bass line overlays, could be "gothic baroque."The best songs are those that most preserve the basic melodies while employing overlays that fit the texture of the song.This is definitely accomplished in "Strange Days," perhaps the strongest track, in which the atmosphere is preserved and embellished, and "Hello I Love You," in which The Newlydeads pretty much follow the original but intensify the rhythm blasts and sing more forcefully than Jim."The Spy" interposes a supplemental fast-paced beat to contrast with the otherwise-followed slow tempo of the original.Lovely female vocals from Rhea's Obsession grace "End of the Night," which is very pretty and one of the best covers."Peace Frog" is also strong, and the most regular-sounding rock number.Among the long cuts, "Riders on the Storm" is well-done, great synth, and "The End" is intermittently successful, but "When the Music's Over" is too much of a carbon copy of the original and the singing is wishy washy.Warning 1:"Light My Fire" and "LA Woman" are not so hot, with grungy vocals and blah truncated instrumentals, and the most glaring omission is "Break on Through"--inexcusable.Warning 2:Keep in mind that one thing everyone, even Doors detractors, agrees on is that The Doors are listenable.Such a fluid sound, no fuzz boxes, synth distortion, etc.This set, while interesting, is not very listenable, with mostly gruff vocals, some distortion, and heavy texture.While it may not be totally a case of not wanting to listen to this CD more than once, you probably will not have the impulse to put it on in most of your moods. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Goth Rock    3. Industrial    4. Industrial Dance    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop Collections    8. Tribute Albums   

Reviews (1)

A very eclectic compilation indeed.
The selection of tracks on this compilation is strange to say the least.I have this CD since it first came out in '96 and I always found people with different musical tastes liking one part of it and hating the other. If you are into synthpop/electro you'll love to find alternative versionsof hits byApoptygma Berzerk, Neuroactive, Leaether Strip, Birmingham 6. However if death industrial/power electronics is your cup of tea you'llfind yourself vigorously skipping the aforementioned numbers to get to thecore of ghoulish soundscapes of In Slaughter Natives, Reptilicus, andRemyl.From what I understand the purpose of this CD was to introduce theScandinavian "goth/industrial" scene to the wider audience ratherthen represent a particular genre of music.Since 1996 many of the electrobands represented here have become quite big worldwide and many wonderfuland exclusively deathindustrial/powernoise comps have been released bylables such as Cold Meat Industry and associates.I suppose this CD willremain a want only to fans of either of the bands who can't find thepresented version of a song elsewhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Industrial    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop Collections    6. Scandinavia    7. World Music   

Reviews (11)

Speed of Pain, best re-working of a song..
The band doing the stripped down lamentful accoustic version of "Speed of Pain" is Ophelia Rising (female vocals) and Abominable (male vocals) if you haven't checked them out you're missing a whole lot, they're a great and often overlooked band. I happen to think that this is the greatest re-working of a Manson song since Apoptygma Bizerk covered "Coma White." (Yeah it was ravey and seriously out-of-character for the song but that's the whole point of tribute/remix albums) The fem vocals on S.o.P. sound very close to Inkyubus Sukkubus (another group worth checking out) I didn't really like the other songs on this album so much as I did Ophelia's.
Bile, A.Headcharge, Needulhed, Razorblade Smile get 5 stars
The album was Great as far as tracks by A.Headcharge, Bile, NeedulHed, and RazorBlade Smile go. ALex Xenophon, and Broke Box had horrible vocals on the album. Bile covered Tourniquet and in my opinion did the best cover on the album. Any true Manson fan should purchase this album regardless.

Aphelia Rising=Davey Havok? "Speed of Pain" is good!!
I've only heard a few of the songs on this, but the one I oddly like alot is the cover of "Speed of Pain." The female kind of makes the song lose its touch. But, it's really good. Imagine the song, now imagine Manson singing it with a female. Now, imagine Manson no longer singing. Now...get this, imagine Davey Havok singing this song. Yes, this sounds like it's Davey Havok of AFI (I bet alot of AFI fans who hear this song, will agree with this) at times, and or most of the time, with a female singing in the background. I like it alot, but the female makes it only good and not great. Davey Havok singing a Manson song...just hearing this one song makes me think AFI should cover this Manson song.Read more

Subjects:  1. Heavy Metal    2. Heavy Metal Collections    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Tribute Albums   

Reviews (4)

Unusually good for Cleopatra
This one would've been hard to screw up.Who's not gonna jump in on a Bauhaus tribute CD?They have (mostly) good bands doing all the hits. The best Tribute I've ever heard
Cleopatra is known to release a tribute album a week practically and usually they are the worse thing since Milli Vanilli. Some Good, Some Bad
But the good over weight the bad.Just ignore the two witches on here butchering music and you'll be happy.I like this album and use it a bit when I DJ. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Dark Ambient    4. Goth Rock    5. Industrial    6. Industrial Dance    7. Pop    8. Post-Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop Collections   

Reviews (23)

Not really a bad album
I am a Metallica fan and was first curious of this kind of tribute. I have other tribute albums from different artists. There are a few good ones and a couple of misses for me on this cd but it's good enough for me to still listen & enjoy it.
not industrial, not metallica
when i was about 10 i heard that metallica were cool, so i went and bought this album, thinking it was metallica originals. i loved it. i later heard some real metallica and was somewhat dissapointed. i have also since heard many other tracks from the artists featured on this album. i prefer this cover album to original metallica, and i prefer this cover album to anything else the artists featured have done (except perhaps razed in black). unfortunately, i have not found anything quite as dark yet good as this.

THE WORST
I love metallica and industrial, this thing is just pure evil, is the worst tribute ever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Heavy Metal    3. Heavy Metal Collections    4. Industrial    5. Industrial Dance    6. Pop    7. Rock   

Reviews (2)

What a waste!
First off, I bought it for a college project I was doing on underground music and so I expected what I got. The music isn't very well engineered and it's just .... There are a few decent songs, but the rest of them aren't worth the listening time. Maybe this is your cup of tea, but it isn't mine and I don't recommend this cd at all.

Uh, I don't think so...
This is a high 1 or a low 2 as I feel it may appeal to SOMEONE else moreso than it did to me. I'm sorry to say but despite a fair number of *names* included on this disc, and some minorly interesting artwork obviouslymixing the Goth world with that of the Ewan McGreggor movie, I only found atrack or two (Chandeen...maybe!and Rosetta Stone) that bore repeatedlistening.As it sits in the back of my collection, this CD is quiteskippable in favor of the more popular (perhaps justifiably so) yetslightly more expensive "Goth Box" or "Black Bible". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Club/Dance    4. Goth Rock    5. Industrial    6. Industrial/Gothic    7. Pop    8. Rock   

Reviews (2)

Another worthless tribute to a great band...
The first was bad enough. Why did they have to make this second tragedy? I have to wonder if this company actually hates Ministry for some reason, and these tributes are perhaps revenge for something. All of the songs soundlike they were recorded by highschoolers with samplers. A better choice ofsongs then in the first tribute...but done by worse bands. Horrible.

It's sick, its twisted I loved it .....
Great CD its got a great remix of Just One Fix, and Jesus Built My hotrod is ok. The only problem with it is that it's lost the hard in-your-face beat that the original hotrod's had. Other than that it's a perfect CD forministry fans 5 stars ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Industrial    3. Industrial Metal    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop Collections    7. Tribute Albums   

Reviews (16)

Better than most....
Most A TRIBUTE TO... compilaions are quite bad. They insult the original artist and their fans. But this one is actually quite good!The best song, and is even better than the original and even the rework by Siouxsie on The Thorn, is The Shrouds version of "Red Over White". The vocals are top notch and envoke more passion that Siouxsie does on her 2 versions. Ever se the movie "Deep In The Woods" the scene with the young man in the woods,and the erie light shinning down on him in the darkness...this song creates a disturbing vision like that one.Best tracks:NIGHTSHIFT: SwitchBlade SymphonyMONITOR: Ex-VotoRED OVER WHITE: The Shroud HEADCUT: Corpus DelicitiSillyThing: Deep RedLAST BEAT OF MY HEART: EderaBiggest embarrassment:SKIN: Sin

Just OK, But Not Worthy of Siouxsie!!!!
The cover of Red Over White is SUPERB on this album (dare I say it? better than the original? sacrilege!! well, in true Banshee tradition, The Shroud covers a song and makes it their own!), however, things are a bit downhill from there.Too many of the tracks sound like they are the same band, too synth-heavy and simply not interesting enough. Love them or hate them, the Banshees' music was so multi-faceted you can listen to a song a hundred times a find some new twist to it.Not the case here. I was terribly disappointed by Switchblade Symphony's version of Nighshift! So flat!The vocals are OK, a bit haunting, but otherwise dullsville!I suppose what this points out is that NO ONE can adequately cover the Banshees. They are in a class, a world ALL their own.

Just OK, But Not Worthy of Siouxsie!!
The cover of Red Over White is SUPERB on this album (dare I say it? better than the original? sacrilege!! well, in true Banshee tradition, The Shroud covers a song and makes it their own!), however, things are a bit downhill from there.Too many of the tracks sound like they are the same band, too synth-heavy and simply not interesting enough. Love them or hate them, the Banshees' music was so multi-faceted you can listen to a song a hundred times a find some new twist to it.Not the case here. I was terribly disappointed by Switchblade Symphony's version of Nighshift! So flat!The vocals are OK, a bit haunting, but otherwise dullsville!I suppose what this points out is that NO ONE can adequately cover the Banshees. They are in a class, a world ALL their own. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Industrial    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop Collections   

Reviews (3)

Rarities and Oddities for the informed fan
This compilation began life as a cassette-only ROIR release compiling the best of that label's FUNKY ALTERNATIVES series.I was overjoyed to find that Cleopatra stopped releasing gothic/darkwave tribute albums long enough to give this collection a new life on CD.I know that the track listing for the CD and the cassette differ slightly, but I can't remember what's missing (if anything)...
Wonderful.Excellent.
Love listening to this in my car, home, where ever. My fave track right now is Chris and Cosey's Oktober (Love Song).

odd track choices
quintessential bands, some bland tracks however ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Acid House    3. Alternative Dance    4. Alternative Pop/Rock    5. Ambient Techno    6. Club/Dance    7. Electronic    8. Electronica    9. Experimental Rock    10. House    11. Industrial    12. Industrial Dance    13. Pop    14. Popular Music    15. Post-Punk    16. Rock    17. Techno   

Editorial Review

Neither a label sampler nor a hits collection, Read more

Subjects:  1. 80's    2. 90's    3. Alternative Pop/Rock    4. Electro-Industrial    5. Industrial    6. Industrial Dance    7. Pop    8. Rock/Pop Collections    9. Spoken / Comedy / Radio Shows   

Editorial Review

Not a bad idea for a compilation--a collection of songs from industrial bands fronted by female vocalists. If, as many critics claim, male-dominated industrial dance music is just so much posturing, this disc just might be the antidote, a riot-grrrl equivalent for the latex-and-fishnets crowd. And even though Read more

Reviews (3)

Intelligible industrial/ebm.
Buy this if you like industrial/ebm/electro, but often Excellent Samplier
This is an excellent sampler. It introduces you to many excellent female fronted indie bands. Specially for those who don't frequent stores that carry hard to find indie imports. Take a taste of The Razor Skyline,Sunshine Blind, Coptic Rain, Battery and many other gems.

The best disc I ever purchased
An album of angry female industrial bands, who are not afraid of sharing with the world. Never before has a complitation album managed to get so many fabulous songs in one place. I originally bought this for the whistful 'Spring' by 'Fading Colours' but after just one listen, I knew this disc was my favorite. I haven't removed it from the changer since I purchased it! It runs the range from electronic beat with slow vocals,to a drum, guitar, vocal free for all. For anyone who likes to hear girls who aren't afraid to get a little dirty, girls who's voices make you feel insignificant, girls who will beat you to a bloody pulp and then laugh out loud,this is the album you've been waiting for. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. China    2. Heavy Metal    3. Industrial    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop Collections   

Reviews (3)

Desmo Donte is the King of Vampires
Desmo Donte is THE band to listen to on this cd. The lead singer, Riccardo has a beautiful voice that haunts deep to your innermost soul...."Into the Sun" still lingers in my mind....good job Desmo Donte...andRiccardo:)

Excellent
These are the sort of songs my favorite goth club djs play, but I hadn't heard most of these. I had heard ExVoto, saw them in concert, they were awesome. I'd love to find more cds of theirs.

Great etherial Goth from the immortal Ex-Voto and others.
This is the kind of compilation Cd that you can just let run...no wannabe covers from Puff Daddy...its all etherial Goth. Ex Voto has been around a long time, and developed a loyal following. This effort prominentlyfeatures the voice of the stunningly beautiful Babalon (shes also on thecover of their new CD). If you're into it, see their website too...you canget more CDs there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Goth Rock    3. Industrial Dance    4. Industrial/Gothic    5. Pop    6. Rock   

Reviews (2)

Good Industrial songs
Wax trax has been introducing great industrial bands to the pubic for years.

waxtrax has done it again
mediocrity.I had this cd for a week when it first came out, and listened to it about 10 times. I listen to the average cd five or six times before tiring of it.The case looks cool, so if you pull it out, it's likely toget played by friends.The songs?There could have been a better trackfor KMFDM, but it's good music for sitting in a dark room and drinkingSnakebite. The Ms. liked it too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Club/Dance    3. Industrial    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop Collections   

Reviews (1)

Interesting Mixture
Being the re-issue of a vinyl album long out of print, this CD is an interesting way to get to know the various forms of progressive industrial developed in the (late) 80ies. Collecting 10 songs of 10 (sometimesextremely different) artists, this album still can (and should!) belistened to "as a whole", as the different styles never clash inan unpleasant way.Some of the featured songs are in this form unavailableon any other album, e.g. Coil's "The Wheel" (Track 07) [forcollectors: a different mix of this track has been included in the germanrelease of "Gold is the Metal..."]. Einstuerzende Neubauten's"Wardrobe" (Track 10) is the classical album version, whilstCabaret Voltaire's "Product Patrol" has been slightly altered, sothe bass is a bit more prominent. For collectors, this item is "closeto a must" (hence 4 stars), for those interested in the history ofprogressive (not necessarily aggressive, mind you) music, this is a highlyrecommended compilation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Club/Dance    4. Dance Music    5. Dark Ambient    6. Electronic    7. Experimental    8. Experimental Rock    9. Industrial    10. Pop    11. Popular Music    12. Post-Punk    13. Rock    14. Rock/Pop Collections    15. Synth Pop