Gothtober - Exhuming Tunes- Christian Death's "Catastrophe Ballet"

Totally different lineup for the second album, but it's where Valor Kand steps in. It is a better-sounding album than "Onlyt Theater of Pain," production-wise, and Rozz settles into his vocal delivery with more assurance."Awake at the Wall" is more of an intro to me than a free-standing song, which is best understood when "Sleepwalk" kicks in. "Sleepwalk" is a more energetic display of how this lineup keeps the identity of the band.  "The Drowning" abandons the punk energy to find a tense groove that opens the door to display that this is something different than where they started, though the homoeroticism is on parade, with different contemplation behind it.

"The Blue Hour" is something different than what the bandd who played on the first album would have done, which was important to Rozz, who was not going to be limited to just playing punk rock songs for Halloween. A Doors-like is pondering is set against chords David Bowie would have used. The album gains momentum on "As Evening Falls," which carries over into the infectious 'Electra Descending". Rozz really kills it on the chorus on this album; they are memorable without trying to be anthemic in a radio-ready manner.  "Cervix Couch" is the first song that switches gears into something more droning. While there is that element in "the Blue Hour," it is also more brooding thanks to the drums. 

Then things get weird with "the Feeling Somnambulist". It's a bath of odd ambient, about as LSD driven as "Revolution # 9". If you are on drugs, this one might not be the best track to focus on, as it can take you down a heloish introspective rabbit hole, written from experience. The drugs have n worn off going into "the Somnolent Pursuit" it takes the theme established in the previous trakc and continues into the abyss with them. "Between Youth" finds a bit of sanity returning. It meets halfway between what they were ddoing and the new experimental twist their warped minds have turned towards. "After the Rain' is  brings back the death rock after this excursion. I will give this album a 10 as even with all the experimentation it is blanced out with growth and great songwriting. 

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