CD: Empire Of The Vampire
Artist: Paralyzed Age
Reviewed by: Mike VentarolaSome gothic folks cringe at the mere mention of vampires, vampire music, et al. This reviewer is a major fan of that genre and will not make any excuses or apologies for appreciating it. The metaphor of the vampire is universal to those who in some ways are outside the mainstream parameters of what is deemed as acceptable. This can range from race, sexual orientation, gender or even in the style of music that one enjoys. Anne Rice utilized the vampire as a metaphor for alcoholism which she was battling at the time of writing the now legendary "Interview..." series. There is some cheese associated with this style of music, however this CD is NOT one of them.
The cover art depicts two female models. One who appears to be in the throes of ecstasy while the vampire is just about to make that point of entry for the "life sustaining liquid" which flows through the veins.
"Bloodsucker" is the current dance floor hit in Europe according to my research. It has the same sound structure as the Sisters of Mercy's song "Vision Thing," so needless to say it is high energy and immediately addictive and club ready for massive exposure.
"Morella's Sleep" is a slower gothic groove which transports us along on a dark cloud which then erupts into another dance tune that has elements of the new wave genre from the early eighties.
"Dark" swirls sound from the caverns of your speaker with a bit more edginess to it.
"Tears Are Always The End" is a slow, lumbering song that squeezes the morose and morbidity to full extent, that one cannot help but feel total sympathy for the "vampire."
"Famine" has quarter beats, and keyboard created vox choral backgrounds to accompany this very catchy minor chord flavored tune.
"Intro" provides a sound sample element to carry the disc along on a fantasy journey of darkness as viewed from the eyes of a vampire.
"Nocturne" segues from the last song into another highly danceable song that emphasizes the delight of the night, sleep and immobility. This song does have a Sister's of Mercy feel to it as well which seems to be deftly handled by this group.
"Thirst" is created with somber timbres which accompany this ballad, emphasizing the types of thirst one has been known to have.
"Still I Can Hear You Singing" opened with the typical minor gothic chords associated with this genres style of music. This is a slower ballad style song, which reflects upon the emptiness of one's world after the significant other has left them. The heart wrenching lyrics are masterfully handled to infuse bittersweet memory and passion to make this vocalist believable.
"Exile" picks up the pace while providing funereal sounds from the keyboard and guitars in a relatively unique hybrid that is not harsh against the ears. The lyrics, infused yet again with pained passion, make this such a remarkable song for reflection. Anyone who has been shunned by family, friends, etc. will have a full appreciation for this song.
"Hunger" is another short segue that has a poetic recitation accompanied to music to move the disc along with its theatrical like effect.
"Heaven" opens with a moody deep tone and a slow metronomic style drum beat. The guitars carry this song upward with really good chord changes that enhance the drum sounds.
"Xmas-X" pipes out like an industrial tune at first but switches gears to a quarter beat that again works as a dance floor hit.
"End Of The World" takes us to the nether region of dissolution. Each of us has our own version of what the "end of the world" is like. For some, the end is the loss of love, others the loss of a loved one.
"Patricia In Pain" had an opening musical style that was reminiscent of early Gitane Demone which then careened onto another pathway of original dark sound somewhat like early Nosferatu.
"The Weakest" is another great dance cut that really needs to be experienced to fully appreciate.
"Mine" is the most horrific in terms of sound structure and moodiness. This could almost be a part of a Hammer Horror soundtrack for the new millennium. After the intro puts you in that "mood" you are then jerked into a dance floor cut that defies anyone to sit still.
Dancing Ferret Discs has a major winner on their hands with what is predicted to be a multiple hit CD. The music makes you aware of your emotions yet is also a great dance album. The vocals, with just a slight hint of accent, make the whole vampire aspect believable. Words truly cannot hope to do this CD major justice, as this is a piece of work that truly must be experienced to be appreciated Paralyzed Age should be required in every DJ's playlist to get a crowd really moving. The gothic influence is inherent in the body of the work, yet they also utilize modern elements to maintain a fresh edge and perspective.
Paralyzed Age borrows some elements from Sisters of Mercy, however, they take it to a new dimension that the Sisters would have gone had they remained "goth." This group manages to artfully maintain a level of passion in all the songs, including the dance tunes. Usually dance songs don't tend to emphasize passionate vocals, since the beat is the driving force behind much of it. This band spared no expense to allow the listener the full range of their talent and ability from excellent vocals to superb mixing.
Put this disc on your Christmas list if you must, but do get it. This will be a classic!
