Fields of The Nephilim

As hinted at on Omnio, Norway's In The Woods has taken yet another step away from metal. First, they have broken with black metal entirely, and secondly, they have perhaps left the genre altogether in order to create a dark, swirling, heavy rock music all their own. Utilizing many of the same tactics they pioneered on Omnio, such as the use of a full string quartet alongside the band, In the Woods have taken further liberties in their instrumentation: sitars, gongs, drum loops, and keyboard programming, as well as a pedal steel guitar have been incorporated into their sound. On paper it sounds dreadful, in the grooves it is positively seductive and powerful…

Focusing on the '80s, Cleopatra continues to document the history of gothic rock with this two-CD set. Progressing through the discs, the tracks get basically more obscure. Starting off is the pop-goth of the Cult ("Spirit Walker," similar to the Skeleton Family track), then on to the odd, desert goth of Theatre of Hate's "Do You Believe in the Westworld." Fields of Nephilim adds riff-rock goth (&"Blue Water"). With sound ready to open for Psychedelic Furs or Modern English is March Violets. Truly unique is the bouncy, glam goth of Danielle Dax' "Yummer Yummer Man." The obligatory track of '80's goth kings, Bauhaus, is "Passion of Lovers." Other big names in the genre found here include Christian Death, New Model Army, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Gene Loves Jezebel and Alien Sex Fiend. Lesser known is a catchy cut from Sexbeat, "Sweat.

Extensive 5CD/book set exploring the evolution of the Goth movement, from the glacial postpunk of the late 1970s through positive punk and into the Batcave era, dark electronica and beyond.