Item: The Sisters of Mercy - Dominion
Rating: 5
Author: Battlegods

THE REVIEW

Temple of the dark wave. In 1988, the Sisters Of Mercy recorded their last peak before falling into the conventional with "Vision Thing" in 1990.

The ringing guitars, the pounding on the snare, and Eldritch's charisma are still very much present. The main riff already marks the path to follow, while the choruses of the "lady dark" (Patricia Morrison) further fill that fabulous refrain, which miraculously does not fall into the stadium AOR cliché. This is the magic. You can talk about love or hint at pop nuances without spoiling anything.

The fast pace hurls you into a headwind race where neither horizon nor light is outlined. Absolutely worth mentioning is the sax, a fundamental element in "Floodland"; here we find it divinely introducing the song, almost with a cultured lounge air.

"Dominion" reached number seven on the Irish charts and thirteenth on the UK charts. It's the period of "This Corrosion", even more commercial and catchy in the refrain, and the seminal "Lucretia My Reflection". It’s the style dictated for a few years by the Cult, which Bauhaus could not or would not embark on and even digested by Litfiba at times.

The Sisters Of Mercy ward off fiery criticism only thanks to their class and intuition. Many post-punk and gothic bands, after sensational debuts, compromise with talks of money and fashion. Eldritch and company, satisfied with the glories of "Alice" and "Temple Of Love", risk canceling themselves out and proposing dishes that are not intriguing for fans.

It is interesting to note how the ideas of the projects, the fashions, and the sounds change unlike the audience, who always want the artist to remain the same. However, remaining oneself also means maturing. Certainly, with "Floodland", they did not exaggerate the aspect of their sound. Rather, they perfectly understood and shaped the mood and environment, delivering an album that is still much acclaimed.

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Summary by Bot

Dominion by The Sisters of Mercy embodies the peak of their dark wave success before a stylistic shift in 1990. Featuring iconic riffs and memorable saxophone introductions, the album balances gothic roots with commercial appeal. The band’s charisma and refined sound deliver a timeless and influential work. Despite pressures to commercialize, the group maintained their essence and matured their style. Dominion remains highly acclaimed for its mood and atmosphere.

Tracklist Lyrics

04 Emma (06:23)

We were together since we were five
She was so pretty
Emma was a star in everyone's eyes
And when she said she'd be a movie queen
Nobody laughed
With her face like an angel
She could be anything

Emmaline
Emma
Emmaline
I'm gonna write your name high on the silver screen
Emmaline
Emma
Emmaline
I'm gonna make you the biggest star this world has ever seen

At seventeen
We were wed
And I worked hard to earn our daily bread
And every day
Emma would go out searching for that play
That never, ever came her way
And sometimes she come home and she'd be so depressed
I'd hear her crying in the back room and be so distressed
And I'd remember back when she was five
To the words that used to make Emmaline come alive
It was...

Emmaline
Emma
Emmaline
I'm gonna write your name high on the silver screen
Emmaline
Emma
Emmaline
I'm gonna make you the biggest star this world has ever seen

It was a cold and dark December night
When I opened up the bedroom door
To find her lying
Cold and still upon the bed
A love letter lying on the bedroom floor
IT read,
�Darling I love you
But I just can't keep living on dreams no more
I've tried so hard not to leave you alone
But I just can't keep trying no more�

Emmaline
Emma
Emmaline
I'm gonna write your name high on the silver screen
Emmaline
Emma
Emmaline
I'm gonna make you the biggest star this world has ever seen

Track details