Artist: Nosferatu
Title: Wonderland
Genre: Goth Rock
Release Date: 25th March 2011
Label: Dark Fortune Records
Album Review
The British band NOSFERATU formed in the late 1980s and has left a first mark with a track, called ‘Bloodlust’, released on a vinyl compilation in 1990. The first EP ‘The Hellhound’ followed in 1991. 1993 saw the release of the full-length debut ‘Rise’ and a line-up change. In 1994 already, the band put out a compilation of rarities and piled-up early recordings under the name ‘Prophecy’, after which the line-up carousel started rotating again, which kept happening a couple times more. Over time, NOSFERATU has become one very credibly and successful representative of Goth Rock and with ‘Wonderland’ has released their 11th album.
Even though having that kind of status, I just stumbled across NOSFERATU last year at a live performance they were playing. A little odd but good were my thoughts on this band and now I was going to see if the new album would leave a good impression with me. The opener ‘Horror Holiday’ already kicked it off with a good vibe and a driving pace. The memorable piano theme embraces Lous Devray’s vocals firmly to let go on start of the chorus where it’s being pushed to the backseat by the guitar works and subtle atmospherics. The title track is up next and I have to say that I was quite surprised how it turned out. More of a jazzy atmosphere was reaching out to me, attached to slowly drifting drums. Especially I love how the piano lines and the ethereal ambient parts add that special kind of feeling to the song, a very intense feeling. ‘Jackel’ can be seen as an intro and transition to the following ‘Silver’. First, classical piano is sounding in the distance, fading away eventually and getting replaced by a short string section before the rhythm of ‘Silver’ is kicking in to accentuate the build of moody textures of the song, while the harsh guitars only occur in the chorus section to elevate a powerful vocal delivery.
‘Bombers’ is picking up a sound reminiscent of early post-punk, a little bit of an icy undertone resonating within its rhythms and melodies, forming a unity with the heavy riffing and the sonorous vocals that are like whispers from your subconscious. All tracks on ‘Wonderland’ in one or the other way utilize synthesized atmospheres, but not the RAMONES cover of ‘Somebody Put Something In My Drink’. Maybe it would’ve been inappropriate to use some and so the track speeds by with purest Rock’n’Roll attitude and its excellent that way. The following ‘Spectre’ then is like its counterpart. Void of any vocals it’s kind of impalpable, like fog or a ghost. The drums are slowly creeping forward covered by ghostly sound gimmicks which make it a very haunting experience. The album is closed with ‘Monument’ that is not raising the pace at all, rather it is dwelling on a condensed sense of unease that somehow resonates between the spaces of the acoustic guitar and the ominous synth sprinkles. An urgent end for an urgent album! I didn’t think I would like it as much as I do now after I gave it plenty of spins. It represents some of the best Goth Rock I’ve heard in years actually. It’s just not feeling fake or riding the cliché wave too much.
Tracklist
01. Horror Holiday - 5:18
02. Wonderland - 6:07
03. Jackal - 0:43
04. Silver - 5:52
05. Bombers - 5:02
06. Entwined - 5:14
07. Black Hole - 5:29
08. Somebody Put Something In My Drink - 3:10
09. Spectre - 2:22
10. Monument - 6:56
Line-Up
Louis DeWray - Vocals
Damien DeVille - Lead Guitar
Nevyn - Bass Guitar
Chrys Columbine - Keyboards, Piano, Vocals
Belle - Drums
6 - Rhythm Guitar
Website
http://www.myspace.com/officialnosferatu
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9 / 10
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