Gothtober- The Top 10 Goth Albums of 2025

 

Having already started the End of the Year List season with the Top 10 Post-Punk Albums of 2025, it's time to move in a darker direction with the Top 10 Goth Albums of 2025. If this seems premature,  record labels have already sent me most of what this year has to offer. After I sort through sorting through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2025. Perhaps it was marginally better than the previous year, though, given the current climate of the world, we are progressing on a downward spiral, making dark music more important as a soundtrack for this.  The very fact that these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album; there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day, what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, and you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list, and I have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway, here are the top 10 Goth albums of 2025.

10-Ash Code-"Synthome" 

These guys have returned after 8  years for a very legit stab at darkwave, that carries the creepy elegance other acts lack, along with a backbone of tense driving songs. There are a few different vocal colors in the first two songs along ranging from a higher, more emotive plea to the hushed urgency is a suitable comeback album that the rest of the genre could stand to take notes from.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/10/gothtober-ash-code-synthome.html

 

-9-Die Sexual- "Desire" 

This three-song EP comes from this Los Angeles-based duo, who are getting some buzz for their big techno-infused brand of dark wave, though their hyper sexualized branding does not hurt in getting you attention. Rather than trying to recreate a sound from the past. This is also reflected in the production that is modern and larger than life, like it should be pumping in an after-hours club where the latex and cocaine flow in equal proportion. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/07/die-sexual-desire.html

        

8-Bella Eterna -"Fire" 

The project brings Spanish producer JG Outsider together with vocalist Gerd Van Geel of the Belgian band the Arch, to create an interesting take on dark wave that incorporates elements of post punk with the more traditional club beats of the genre. The most shadowy aspect I have encountered in the genre is its less dramatic expression of melancholy. Geel's vocals are not croaking out a vampiric baritone, but his voice carries a vulnerable tremble in his introspective upper register. I like that it is true to the genre without defaulting to the expected tropes.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/10/gothtober-bella-eterna-fire.html

7-Corlyx -"Purple Pain" 

Boldly delivering a double album, they have more than enough songs to showcase their strength of embracing both the past of traditional dark wave and still not shying away from paying tribute to this era, with new sounds, like vibrant synth-wave keyboard lines, and pop-inflected hooks. Overall, her growth as a singer is evident in these songs. She is certainly now in the upper tiers of female vocalists in modern goth. This is an ambitious outpouring of songs that shows their melding of all the varied sub-genres of goth into something familiar without becoming a tribute band, as their own unique vision is the lifeblood of these odes to darkness, in all of its shades and seasons

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/02/corlyx-purple-pain.html

6-IN COVERT- "Bleak Machinery" 

Right from the start, this album is draped in reverb to create a thick atmosphere , blending the rough edges of industrial pulses with death-rock's elegant romance with depression turned outward. It's not the first time we have heard this kind of thing from Los Angeles, but they are good at what they are doing and bringing a more metal-minded aggression to it. The vocals go into an emotive scream rather than the harshness of a hardcore band, and find their way into pulsing beats that could be danced to, though the dense sonics might perplex your average 'goth nite' patron. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/08/in-covert-bleak-machinery.html

5-Peter Murphy - "Silver Shade" 

At 67, Murphy looks older than he sounds.  Some of these songs would not have been out of place on his 89 classic "Deep". It carries the new wave bounce, though not as dark as Bauhaus; it is true to the era. Perhaps he is paying a great deal of service to his fan base, which is wise. His pipes stay fluid even when going up into the wavering vibrato of his upper register. It's impressive that he found his way back to this place and delivered in this manner, way more impressive than Billy Idol's new one. 

 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/peter-murphy-silver-shade.html

4-Bootblacks -"Paradise" 

 Brooklyn-based band BOOTBLACKS is dancing in a more dark wave direction with their new album "Paradise", with songs driven by synth pulses. The reverb-slathered guitar sits back in the mix, content haunting the backdrop. Which works for me. This is one of the best albums this year to delve into this intersection of dark-wave and more 80s-aligned dark pop sounds. Their brand of brooding is backlit with neon to showcase another facet of dark music.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/bootblacks-paradise.html

3-Altar De Fey- "Under a Waxing Moon" 

. A great deal of credit goes to the passionate lamentations of Jake Hout are the trembling heart of the album, as the guitar weaves the sonic cobwebs for Hout's stellar croon to crawl upon. "They balance the hypnotic elegance that gives death rock its creepy grace with a more post-punk tension.Poseurs who just want to play dress up and dance at the club might not catch onto what is going on here, as there are actual instruments, plugged into drawing from a canvas that celebrates actual darkness and not just the pagentry of it. Their knack for compelling songwriting continues to not only endure but aging like wine with each release, perfecting what they do a little more,

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/09/altar-de-fey-under-waxing-moon.html

- 

 2-Street Sex - "Full Color Eclipse"

The biggest difference between what they are doing here and as Street Sects, lies in the new wave approach to synths, and there is none of the harsh screaming vocals. I would not say they sound like Depeche Mode, but sonically it's more in the direction of "Music For the Masses" than it is "Too Dark Park". I do like some of the experimentation with how the vocals are produced, and this is heavier than New Wave, due to the emotional intensity that has more in common with "Pretty Hate Machine".

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/08/street-sex-full-color-eclipse.html

1-Heartworms - "Glutton For Punishment"

Why is this album taking the top spot, you ask?  There are organic qualities blended with a chamber-pop sound that brings Dresden Dolls to mind in equal doses as Rasputina .. Helmed by Jojo Orme, this project is mroe organic and capable of rocking out than your average darkwave band, with songs like "Jacked' falling on the more post-punk side of the equation. The guitars are capable of delivering the needed jagged tension. The album spends a great deal of time juggling the more electronic elements against a jangle of guitar that leans left of center into a moodier indie rock. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/10/gothtober-heartworms-glutton-for.html

 

pst527

The Top 10 Goth / Industrial Albums of 2025... so far

As the Doomsday Clock races, time speeds up, as 2025 is at its midpoint. With the impending end of times comes a celebration of darkness, and these bands are making substantial soundtracks for that. These lists serve as a decent snapshot of where the year is heading in terms of music. I have already received promos for albums dropping as far out as August in my inbox, so they will need to bring it to compete with the top five albums on this list. For the mid-year report card list, I'm combining goth with its close cousin, industrial.   I have included links to full reviews if you want to check these out, and with all that said, here are the top 10 Goth / Industrial albums of 2025 so far. 

10-Palindrones-Chapter 2 the Slender Blade" 

This British dark wave duo moves in interesting directions. We caught up with them on our podcast. Check that interview out here... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6D9B509gzA&t=832s

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/03/palindrones-chapter-2-slender-blade.html

9-Sowulo -"NIHT"

Neo-folk has always been a sub-genre of goth more than folk; this Nordic project balances the more primal nature with a grandiose atmosphere that captures a darker mood than most, and earns them their spot on this list. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/06/sowulo-niht.html

8-Gaahl's Wyrd - "Braiding the Stories" 

I am glad to hear Gaahl continuing to explore his singing voice. The vocals are well layered, with more of his upper register present while the baritone croon holds center stage, which is on brand for him. It is not surprising that Gaahl and I are of a similar musical mindset, for here he proves that the emotive value of darkness is just as heavy as metal.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/03/gaahls-wyrd-braiding-stories.html

7- Bootblacks- "Paradise" 

This Brooklyn-based band, BOOTBLACKS, is dancing in a more dark wave direction with their new album, with songs driven by synth pulses. The reverb-slathered guitar sits back in the mix, content haunting the backdrop.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/bootblacks-paradise.html

6-Corlyx-"Purple Pain" 

This album showcases their strength of embracing both the past of traditional dark wave and still not shying away from paying tribute to this era, with new sounds, like vibrant synth-wave keyboard lines, and pop-inflected hooks.

  https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/02/corlyx-purple-pain.html

 

 5-The Cure- "Mixes of a Lost World" 

In case you forgot this was coming out, Robert Smith is not the control freak he once was, as he is allowing 24 artists to remix the band's 2024 masterpiece.It shows how much reach the Cure's influence has on music as a whole.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-cure-mixes-of-lost-world.html

 

 

4-Ministry- "the Squirrelly Years Revisited" 

The joke about back when Ministry sounded like Depeche Mode wore thin on Uncle Al, after polishing off the early songs for live sets, even before releasing their last album, he re-recorded the songs from the "Twitch" and "With Sympathy" era. The vocals are more in line with how Al sings now. Sometimes the guitars are providing more heft, with the more new wave leaning dance beats driving the hot rod that Jesus built. In some cases, this works just well enough. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/ministry-squirrelly-years-revisted.html

3-Peter Murphy- "Silver Shade" 

At 67, Murphy looks older than he sounds. The new wave bounce on these songs would not have been out of place on his 89 classic "Deep". Not as dark as Bauhaus, it is true to the era. He keeps the '80s pulse going paying a great deal of service to his fan base, which is wise. His pipes stay fluid even when going up into the wavering vibrato of his upper register. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/peter-murphy-silver-shade.html

 

2-Youth Code -"Yours, With Malice"  

On previous releases, they felt more like a militant version of Skinny Puppy, so this might be more neon lit, and not as dark as, say, 'A Place to Stand'. They employ more dynamics at times as Sara retains her signature scowling. It does not sound dated and moves industrial music forward, rather than solely focusing on the past eras.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/04/youth-code-yours-with-malice.html

1-Shedfrombody- "Whisper and Wane" 

This project from Finland marks another entry to the hallowed halls of ethereal hot girl music. It's almost like ASMR set to brooding post-rock. The vocals are hypnotically layered, and the songs have a subtle slither to them, but despite the somewhat hopeful cadence of the vocals, this album is dark like a brooding thunderstorm, and less dressed up for Halloween, though still dark enough to earn it's place at the top here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/01/shedfromthebody-whisper-and-wane.html

pst292

May's Top 10 Albums

It's time for May's top 10 albums. Staying abreast of the month's highlights might help casual readers see what they missed and check these artists out. I am not writing little blurbs on them; I am just linking the reviews. Inclusion here does not mean that these albums have been released this month, but it is a list of new or upcoming albums I have enjoyed the most. I have albums in my inbox that are not coming out til August, so I am normally way ahead of the curve in this regard. They are ranked in order of what I have listened to the most. This month, there tends to be a dominant theme of new wave, pop, and goth, though we have a couple of metal bands in the mix as well,  so you may find your new favorite among them. Here are the Top 10 albums of May 

10-HEXVESSEL- "Nocturne"  

Black Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/hexvessel-nocturne.html

9-Swans - "Birthing" 

Experimental Post Punk 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/swans-birthing.html

8-Katatonia -"Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State" 

Prog Rock 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/katatonia-nightmares-as-extensions-of.html

7-Sleep Token - "Even In Arcadia" 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/sleep-token.html

6-Ministry - "the Squirrelly Years Revisted"

 

New Wave / Goth 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/ministry-squirrelly-years-revisted.html

5-Peter Murphy- "Silver Shade" 

New Wave / Goth 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/peter-murphy-silver-shade.html

4-Age of Apocalypse - "In Oblivion" 

Hard-core 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/age-of-apocalypse-in-oblivion.html

3-the Callous Daoboys- " I Don't Want to See You in Heaven" 

Metal - Core 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-callous-daoboy-i-dont-want-to-see.html

2-Pixel Grip - "Perceptide the Death of Reality" 

Dark Wave  / Pop 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/pixel-grip-perceptide-death-of-reality.html

1-Freeze the Fall - "The Red Garden"

Hard Rock  / Nu-Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/freeze-fall-red-garden.html

pst240

Peter Murphy : " Silver Shade"

At 67, Murphy looks older than he sounds. The album opens up with an upbeat song that would not have been out of place on his 89 classic "Deep". It carries the new wave bounce, though not as dark as Bauhaus, it is true to the era. He keeps the '80s pulse going with "Hot Roy," which captures the late '80s synth pulse perfectly. Perhaps he is paying a great deal of service to his fan base, which is wise. His pipes stay fluid even when going up into the wavering vibrato of his upper register. 

Morrissey could stand to take notes here as Metropolis Records quietly dropped this album without a great deal of fanfare, and you can't tell me these guys or someone like Cleopatra would not release a new Moz album. "Sherpa" has "Cuts You Up" energy. However, the hook is not as sharp as that song. This song has a very raw, organic production sound that is interesting. The title track grooves with a little more of a smouldering slither. It rides the synth bass tone hard. Not really going to pop hooks on the choruses, but they work. Some of his later solo work has been more along the lines of Dead Can Dance, so this is a welcome return to the punk-inflected roots. 

"The Artroom Wonder" has more of a disco pulse to it. If it were not for his trembling baritone, this could almost be a Depeche Mode song. Not as funky as 'Stayin' Alive" but heading in that direction. There is more of a 90s hip grinding to the tension of the pulse to "The Meaning of My Life", voice swelling to a more powerful climax on the chorus here. The song structure is often simple on this album, but dynamically effective. "Xavier New Boy" is marginally darker and more reflective as it unfolds in a dramatic build.  He is back in motion for "Cohita is Lame". This perhaps feels more like Bauhaus than the songs before it, even with the synth riff 

The most guitar-driven rock moment so far comes from "Soothsayer."  Then things switch over to a more exotic Middle Eastern flavor tango for "Time Waits," which is more like his more recent solo efforts. The dramatic ballad "The Sailmaker's Charm" does not connect as much with me as the previous songs. The is a slight Beatles vibe to it at times. Though it might be more compelling that the ballad he does a duet with Boy George on. This is another one where I can hear a Beatles-like atmosphere in the background. Boy George's voice has not held up as well as Murphy's. Despite this, the rest of the album nails it pretty hard, and it's impressive that he found his way back to this place and delivered in this manner. I will give it a 9.5, way more impressive than Billy Idol's new one. 

pst214

Gothtober- the Goth Shuffle

A post shared by Daniel R Moore Photography (@drmfoto) on Oct 22, 2017 at 12:47pm PDT

Ok this is going to be like the Weekly shuffle except I am only reviewing the first ten goth songs that come up in my iPod.

Gary Numan- "If I Said" 

This album continues to grow on me. The vocals on this song remind me a little more of Smashing Pumpkins that what I think of as classic Gary Numan, but it still works .

Isendoral - "Tear the Veil of Dreams" 

On the more metal side of goth ,but with less eye liner. There  are generous amounts of neo-folk in this album as well, often they are in conflict with harsher vocals.  It's one that I owe more listens before the year ends.

KMFDM - "Freak Flag" 

One of the poppier songs on this album. It's still a pretty solid album as these moments are done better than they executed them in the band's more recent ebm past.

Marilyn Manson- Vodevil

"the Golden Age of Grotesque" is his most under rated album. Maybe it just connected with me at a certain time in life, but I think it's better than most of his shit that came out after and half the shit that came out before.

Nine Inch Nails - "This Isn't the Place" 

So this might not be Trent's darkest moment, but I think the songs on this album have a interesting atmosphere that doesn't sound dated like some of the 90s moments.

The Cure- "Pictures of You" 

As far as radio songs go this one is one of the more tolerable moments. I think I said enough about this song when I recently did the top 50 Cure songs countdown.

David Bowie- "I'm Afraid of Americans" 

Of the Bowie songs that would fall into this category, this is one of the more obvious moments. I still love listening to the industrial albums he did in the 90s.

Chelsea Wolfe- "Offering" 

When I interviewed her she swore she was not goth, but still makes music that is dark enough to qualify for a list like this .

Peter Murphy -"Indigo Eyes" 

This song almost just makes the cut because this is Peter Murphy and even when it's a happy song like this when he opens his mouth to sing it makes it goth enough.

Grave Pleasures - "Atomic Christ" 

This new album has more of a punk thing going on , but when you have someone from Current 93 doing spoken word at the intro of the song then you make it one here. The bass line is very Cure like.

The Second Cumming of the Weekly Shuffle

#instagood #instalove #photoofday #photographer #photoshoot #boudoir #ink #tattoos #tattoogirl #portraitphotography #love #kiss #kisses #tshirt #acdc #rockandroll #rockstar #eyes #lips #bööbs #editorial #danielrmoorephotography

A post shared by Daniel R Moore Photography (@drmfoto) on Jul 10, 2017 at 1:19pm PDT

The return of this once beloved feature deserves a hot girl with big boobs, because those are numbered among my favorite things just like the songs that are going to pop up like an erection when I hit shuffle on my trusty ipod and review the tracks at random.

This Was 2016 ....My Year In Music

2016 was a hard year, it came to a crushing conclusion that is opening a frightening new chapter, and I have hinted and mentioned certain events in various posts and social media, those closest to me in real life know the details, others might just have clues, I have shared my life in writing and pictures with you on this blog so here is my 2016 month by month paired up with the most fitting song. Some of these fit more neatly than others. In OCD like fashion I debated with the committee of one in my head how to do this. At first this was going to be all songs from 2016, and while there are some I think the songs gathered here provide the most fitting soundtrack to describe what the past year of my life has been like. There are multiple layers and emotions connected to various events in certain places in time, so I am trying to depict the shifting perspective of the years events in a manner than not as cryptic as it could have been. I'll let the music do the talking from here.

January -the Talking Heads - " This Must Be the Place"


February- The Decemberists - "Of Angels and Angles"


March- The National - " I Should Live In Salt"




April- Black Foxxes - "Slow Jams Forever"



May - Peter Murphy "Keep Me From Harm"



June- Cold War Kids- " All of This Could be Yours"


July- Siouxsie and the Banshees - "Happy Home"


August - The Weeknd - "Attention"


September- Pallbearer- "the Sound and the Fury"


October - Sia- " Elastic Heart"


November Planes Mistaken For Stars - "Clean Up Mean"


December Taylor Swift-"Back To December"

Weekly Shuffle

Yeah I Know I'm waaay off schedule for this it's been a weird week so oh well... so here I go clicking shuffle on the the ole ipod and letting my thoughts on the first ten songs rip.


"The Gateway" by Cult of Youth, .. I gotta think this is the biggest band on Avant records, any way this one rolls along nicely, its dark punk folk with an attitude, great album I have reviewed it on here and its no secret how I feel about this band. Sure it might be seen as rather down trodden to your average hipster but its my fun time music...but I think the Smiths are uplifting.

"Lethean" by Katatonia...Reviewed this one as well, this album has really grown on me to by the time I do the mid-term for 2013 it will get it's score rounded up, this one sounds good live, its still pretty middle of the road hard rock but well done and better than any of the lame perfect circle wanna bes on the radio these days, not that I have any clue what is getting played on rock radio which is going the way of the post office and newspaper I'm sure. The solo on this one is pretty tasty and the vocal hooks are all there particularly on the line "We had plans but you couldn't make it" Look for the review of Jonas solo collab the Pineapple Thief this weekend.

"Charlote the Harlot" By Iron Maiden,...There are some who view themselves as metal purists and will foolishly declare that the Paul DiAnno albums are better than the ones with Bruce and while the first two albums are great its just not so, Dianno has a raw rock vocal and would have been incapable of pulling off something like Hallowed be thy Name, I do like the melodic middle section in the middle of this on it reminds me of Thin Lizzy more than any thing actually metal. Even here it sounds like Paul is really straining to reach the notes.

"Trees Come Down" By Fields of the Nephilim... One of their more laid back moments , closest the really get to sharing common ground with the Cure, sure they are both goth but really what does that mean aside from dark, they come from two totally different places even here their is the tribal occult vibe brewing beneath the creep of the bass line. Carl McCoy has a really unique voice going down into a growl before there was anything called Black Metal, I'm sure these guys influenced Celtic Frost as well. The guitar solos sound very David Gilmore on this one. I can imagine listening to this in desert tripping on mushroom would be the perfect fit.

"Subway" by Peter Murphy...Wow, loaded down on the Goth this week here's Some solo Pete, his voice sounds awesome on this track, more electronic elements than Bauhaus ever used, majestic in it's darkness more romantic in feel then even his former bands more laid back work, this is marked by its early nineties production but still a great song. Kinda like goth chill out for dungeon after care.

"Modern Love" by David Bowie...Im going through the book on Karaoke and doing every Bowie song so I guess this one is waiting in the wings. This an under rated album, sure it got him back on the map in the eighties and has some big radio hits for him, but the attention to detail on these songs its unbelievable, I have owned this album for thirty years and it sounds just as good as the day I got it, even when it comes to doing pop Bowie does it well, the fifties flair is a nice touch to , lots of class.

"Mount North" by Immortal... Ok about time for some metal, I love the riffs on this album its really creative guitar playing and still manages to be black metal with out just relying on tremolo picking. It does border on thrash in the way the attack hits. Very viking in feel, though I know their songs are about their own mythology they had made up. kinda like a cooler version of what Coheed does, the double bass by it's self is more epic than any thing those guys could muster. I know some people don't take these guys seriously and lump them in with Dimmu and Behemoth, though Im down with some Dimmu they are more legit than say Cradle of Filth, but Immortal sure wears corpse paints and sings from the tops of mountain tops in the snow but they also rock.

"Conspiracy" By Circle of Ouroborus...I like this album even though the production on it is so god awful, but it doesn't demand a lot of repeat listens but I'm glad when it pops up on shuffle, my thoughts on it havent really changed since i reviewing it, the vocals might be the best part as every thing else was recorded underwater.

"Tyster Pa Gud" by Darkthrone ... I still like these more punk albums better than the retro metal sound they are pumping out even though its a pretty decent album, it hasn't gotten as many spins from me as Cult is Alive though, even with its bad solos and sloppier playing.

"Thorns on My Grave" by Emperor...Well meta; made a comeback this week, Emperor was one of the first black metal bands to stand u and say we want our shit to sound good and don't give a shit about the "necro" sound or being cvlt and because of that you don't hear their name spoke by hipster metal heads who only listen to Mayhem and Darkthrone... o.k they throw some Horna and Inquisition in as well, Emperor can play the fuck out of their instruments end of story and will shred a burning church to the ground. They might have held out on taking the corpse paint off for longer than Darkthrone, need to check a corpse paint timeline on that one. I LOVE THE GURGLED King Diamond influence vocals.

Peter Murphy@Terminal West

After seeing Bauhaus in 98 on the reunion tour, the bar was held pretty high as they were beyond stellar that night. So I went into the show with some trepidation after the publicized personal difficulties Murphy encountered a month or so ago which I though might have put the tour in jeopardy, So I was stunned by the performance that ensued. First off Peter was enjoying himself and every minute onstage. Secondly his voice was on point. He had every ounce of power and range , perhaps even more so than in 98. He looked great, The mug shot I had seen of him online obviously was the Smokinggun.com syndrome and catches no one at their best, though you would think the LAPD, would be more prepared given the high influx of celebrities they encounter. This was the subject of a blog I wrote earlier last month and Murphy upheld my rule of I want my rock stars decadent as long as they can bring it live.

I like the Terminal West as a venue even if its location isn't the most preferred for me personally as I am never on the west side of town. I do like the fact it looks like the Bronze inside and with the Peter Murphy crowd I expected it to be more Goth gone wild, which would further the Buffy vibe, but instead it was more like the Buffy episode where they eat the cursed fundraiser chocolate bars that turn adults into kids. There were lots of forty year old women who had once had a goth phase and they have since forsaken their Clairol Blue Black. This however was not a problem for me as i was up against the stage the bulk of the show with the ex-goths behind me.

It was also cool for them to open with "King Volcano" and there are songs like "All We Really Wanted Was Everything" that when I heard it preformed live renewed my appreciation for it. The bassist helped give "Double Dare" and even more metallic stomp. The highlights for me were some of my personal favorites "She's in Parties" , "Silent Hedges" and " In the Flat Field" all of which took away the case of the I wish He would play.... So in that respect I left the show very content. Though now I would like to catch him again to here him play his solo stuff.I was pretty surprised that songs from "Go Away White" were included in the set, I like the album but I'm not sure the general fan considers it to be among their classics.

While the Bauhaus show had the luxury of bigger budget behind its staging,Murphy held the theatrical elements present in his stage presence alone. He did have a hand held l.e.d white light he used to eerie effect he did no rely on it adapting his prescience to fit the tone of the song some times retreating to the back of the stage for more introspective moments. My doubts were laid to rest at this show and the glorious Mr. Murphy has the mythic pedestal I have held him up on in my mind firmly intact. This wasn't just a case of graceful aging gliding through the nostalgia this some one who tool command of both the stage and songs making them every bit as relevant in that moment, if you the Trent Reznor's of the world can be so lucky. Whatever personal drama he has garnered in the press be damned, because if they can rock like that then I agree with Bill Hicks and I want my rock stars on drugs and in the lap of decadence, after whats option b some watered down Coldplay bullshit?