Christian Death
American Inquisition

"Everyone Hates Valor Kand"              Act V

  ......this time much less than usual.......

Five years after the shapeless and falsely metalized "Born Again Antichrist" (created in collaboration with high-caliber posers such as Cradle of Filth), our favorite antihero/usurper, known in the world as Valor Kand (guitars, vocals, violin, and other instruments), returns, accompanied by his now inseparable adventure companion, the statuesque Maitri (vocals and bass) and aided by one Nate Hassan on drums.
"American Inquisition" presents itself as a concept of open criticism of the post-September 11th American social fabric, harangued, terrorized, exploited, oppressed by unscrupulous televangelist preachers, by the moral and non-moral corruption of the ruling political class (particularly, and it couldn't be otherwise, G.W. Bush) and the supporting lobbies, the inconclusive and ineffective battles against drug use, in short, a merciless, but perhaps a bit predictable and sometimes superficial, photograph of the States in the new millennium.

So far so good, perhaps the themes tackled are a bit worn out, but one can't complain too much, especially compared to some previous albums where there weren't any interesting themes at all.

Whenever you're dealing with a new full-length by Christian Death, you're always on the fence between being hopeful or preemptively disappointed: it's inevitable, and to try not to start excessively prejudiced against them, it's necessary, in my humble opinion, to try to remember only those characteristic components that they have always been able to include even in their worst works, and I refer to gloomy, funereal, and spectral atmospheres, unhealthy, oblique, and mysterious riffs, often supported by instruments not traditionally belonging to the goth/dark movement.

Finally, the inconclusiveness and superficiality that often prevented reaching a final result worthy of the name Christian Death (even though lately their credentials have suffered a serious collapse) are overcome: the album in question takes on a respectable form, well composed, well orchestrated around the positive characteristics mentioned above, perfectly recorded and assembled with care that erases years of sloppiness.

"American Inquisition" is, in my very humble opinion, a very enjoyable album, full of interesting tracks, ranging from more classically death rock episodes like the captivating "Narcissus Metamorphosis Of" (impossible to resist the central chorus) to the industrial rock turned EBM of "Victim X" (following the model of Das Ich), passing through truly successful and evocative songs like the dark and gloomy "Dexter said no to methadone" and the dark ballad "Angels and drugs" (which brings to mind the atmospheres of Radiohead's "OK Computer"). Don't overlook the disturbed "See you in hell" (with a chilling final section), with its malevolent 80s pacing, and the vicious and oriental-tinged "Worship along the Nile" (a truly fitting use of the violin on an Arabic scale that surmounts this rock solid death rock song).

 In conclusion, a truly positive and convincing comeback: give it a chance and don't be intimidated by a superficial first listen. With the sound proposals of Valor and co., one must never give up quickly, as they always require a few additional listens to truly become effective and understandable.