I have had the pleasure of listening to this album a lot over the last week due to reviewing in much shorter form for another publication. One thing I noticed on doing so is that it marks 40 years since Christian Death released their first album ‘Only Theatre Of Pain’ way back in 1982. Even I’m too young to have followed the band since then but they have been a constant personally for a great amount of time. The history is well-documented and marred in tragic circumstances regarding original innovator Rozz Williams whose passing and the continuation of the group by Valor Kand caused a great amount of divide between fans. Valor along with Maitri have been nothing short of dedicated in continuing the legacy of the band for years now. Perhaps the blasphemous heresy of the past has been slightly distilled and become more subtle over time but the poeticism and songcraft from the early era has definitely not and here on the group’s 17th studio album we have a fine collection of songs that traditionally dip back right to the group’s origins.
Joined by Pao the latest of a veritable tribe of drummers who have collaborated over the years, time has obviously been spent composing these new songs since last album The Route Of All Evilution back in 2015. This exploration of evil is presented in a storytelling fashion, each of the songs unfolding like a biblical tale with sublime melodies and the tones of their narrators. Valor sounds like a beatific, placatory and all knowledgeable prophet as he relates ‘The Alpha And Omega’ which has a cautionary sting around the chorus taking him “down to the ground” as the guitars and bass harmonically warble around his prose. A booming noise taking me right back to The Scriptures (for me a defining album) gives way to the lilting and fragrant “story” that is ‘New Messiah.’ You are totally captivated and drawn into everything going on around here from the slinky and sinuous snakelike guitars and beat to Maitri’s backing devotionally enchanted calls. The acoustic parts unravel and as the song fades you are left in anticipation of what is coming next. The theme of sleeping is close to death and both have been a constant on the journey. Here that “Sleep” is “Elegant” but not quite so in tone as Maitri takes over main vocals adding a huge sense of drama and the instrumentation takes on a faster death-rock flurry reminiscent of past anthems such as ‘The Church Of No Return.’
The melodies of these songs linger long after played and have a real haunting presence. No more so than on ‘Blood Moon’ an absolutely gorgeously harmonious track which builds and captivates to a thundering chorus. Once heard it will be lodged in your head, possibly for eternity. It’s as good as anything written over that prolific history and so too is ‘Abraxas We Are,’ delicately opening its wings and crystalising over a sultry and steamy duet of slow-burning love and passion. For me though it is ‘Beautiful’ which has had the biggest impact and not just on this album but as one of my favourite songs in ages. Confronting her death Maitri invites us to her funeral and I guarantee this “celebration” of passing is going to be played as other’s mortal remains take their final journey beyond the curtain. Don’t just take my word for it, watch the video and be prepared to book it for your final playlist, it’s guaranteed to leave those attending with tears of joy. Absolutely sublime and intoxicating.
Sure, there are occasional barbs in these tales, but they are always hopeful despite the ills in the world and the spirit of determination and spirit is all over ‘Rise And Sign.’ You can’t help listening to this and feel it is directly speaking to you which is exactly what a good song is all about! With the title track taking a somewhat experimental route and the two-part ‘Who Am I’ at conclusion there is quite a lot to digest here but it’s a spellbinding journey that will leave you wanting to repeat it time and again. Thankfully plans are taking shape to tour the album firstly in the US in May and further afield after, including London (Underworld Aug 31) a place Valor and Maitri thankfully seem to never neglect. This will do very nicely till then!
(8.5/10 Pete Woods)
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