frontier. flp 1007 / 10 tracks / 1982

UK: future. fl 2 / 1983

F: l'invitation au suicide. sd 1 / 1983

JAP: vap. 35128-25 / 1984

RI (LP,CD): D: normal. 56 / 1988

RI (LP,CD): epitaph. epi 80103 / 1997

RI (CD): JAP: epitaph/epic/sony. epic esca 6744 / 1997

#1 - First US press with gold on black cover. + lyric sheet. #2 - UK version. #3 - French version with different color cover, + booklet. #4 - Japanese version with Obi strip and US cover design. #5 - German reissue with gatefold sleeve. CD has no bonus tracks. #6 - US 1993 reissue on Frontier/BMG with black & white cover and barcode. CD has gold/black cover and six bonus tracks (from Deathwish 12”). #7 - Epitaph reissue with yellow/black cover; CD has Deathwish bonus tracks. #8 - Japanese reissue with 6 bonus tracks. #9 - 2001 reissue on Frontier, LP on black, CD with 6 bonus tracks. #10 - Various 2005/2006 vinyl editions on Frontier on orange, purple and clear vinyl; Dec 2006 reissue on red; 2007 “silver edition” on clear vinyl with silver printing on cover. Produced by Thom Wilson.

I'm not a big fan of goth rock, but this one is definitely one of this genre's classics. The music is heavily influenced by UK post punk bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie or Joy Division, but it's still based in LA punk, and Rikk Agnew's (Adolescents, DI) trademark guitar sound fits quite nicely. So there still is some drive and power, although the songs aren't very fast or aggressive. If you're only slightly interested in this scene, this is probably the only goth record you'll ever need. [8]

Ich bin kein großer Goth-Fan, aber die erste Christian-Death-LP ist definitiv ein Klassiker. Stark beeinflusst von englischen Post-Punk-Bands wie Bauhaus, Siouxsie oder Joy Division, trotzdem dient der gute alte LA-Punk als Basis, was noch vom legendären Rikk-Agnew-Gitarrensound unterstrichen wird (kennt man von den frühen Adolescents- und DI-LPs). Es gibt also durchaus auch Drive und Power, auch wenn die Songs eher im getragenen Tempo gehalten sind. Gut.

Tracks: cavity - 1st communion / figurative theatre / burnt offerings / mysterium iniquitatis / dream for mother / stairs (uncertain journey) / spiritual cramp / romeo's distress / resurrection - 6th communion / prayer (/ romeo's distress (demo version) / dogs / desperate hell / spiritual cramp (demo version) / cavity (demo version))