Customer Reviews

Empathy for the Devil

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Just in time for the Halloween season, the Electric Hellfire Club has returned with a compilation of Satanic cover songs, out-of-print material, and two new songs produced by Abaddon of black metal legends Venom. Liner notes by singer Thomas Thorn chronicle the band's evolution from a predominantly electronic industrial band ostracized by the "industrial" community to the current incarnation of the band and its embrace of heavy metal influences. Now to the music: Disc 1 is comprised of cover tunes available on an assortment of worthless Cleopatra comps so you can have all EHC without industrial/goth filler. If you are not familiar with EHC they combine elements of industrial dance with psychedelic keyboards and liberal doses of metal. The song material is notoriously dark and considered campy by many, with many songs glorifying Satan, Charles Manson, pagan themes, drug use, etc. The "Sympathy for the Devil" cover is somewhat standard but nonetheless has some new elements and is an excellent cover. This song has already been covered by Laibach and others so the novelty is not quite there. EHC does a startling cover of the Cure's "Killing An Arab"-sure to enrage Cure fans the world over. Then is a loyal tribute to "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC. Topping the disc off is two Abaddon produced tracks showcasing the band's transition into more of a traditional rock/metal band. The guitars were always there, but now they are properly recorded and layered into the music. Imagine the power a song like "Age of Fire" off of EHC's first full-length album would have with the thrash metal guitars brought to the forefront. EHC has in many ways reached an ideal in their sound: industrial dance mixed with a solid dose of black metal. The writing was on the blood-drenched walls with the predominantly metal tour supporting the Unholy Roller tour last year. New song "The Bishop's Folly", about a bishop who loses his faith and embraces his dark side, reaches a spiritual euphoria midway thru the song with unconventional guitar work by Riktor Ravensbruck and the trademark EHC plodding electronic(?)basslines. On Disc 2 is a great gift to EHC fans unlucky enough to not have found the "Trick or Treat" limited edition ep. It consists of a dance mix featuring a reworking of John Carpenter's Halloween theme, a cover of "Bela Lugosi's Dead", and a cover of Type O Negative's "Black No. 1". This set is for die-hard EHC fans, fans of industrial covers, and new fans alike. However, an unexperienced EHC listener would be best served by picking up "Burn, Baby Burn" and "Kiss The Goat" first. Also of interest is Psychopomps "Six Six Six Nights in Hell" album. Hail Hellfire!

There's no reason why you cannot celebrate Halloween all year 'round, as many of us already aesthetically do --- the very cover depicts what one would expect to see on a Halloween effects album, which initially drew Me to it in particular in the first place, as I'm always looking for Hallows tunes - jaunty, eerie, silly, or serious.

A smiling Jack-o-Lantern adorns the cover, placed on the customized EHC Baphomet. Inside, elucidating liner notes, a veritable essay & evolutionary prognostication by Reverend Thomas Thorn, as to the future development of the band.

Here, some of the all-time classics of infamy are covered in a playfully diabolical way, from horror movies to devilish Heavy Metal & Gothic bands demonized by xoids, which ignited much of the furor in the highly satanophobic 80's.
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Disc One

1. Sympathy For The Devil

The Rolling Stones classic, said to be the first Rock'N'Roll song to fully anknowledge The Prince of Darkness as Lucifer, "Minister of Music" --- the song to which a veritable sacrifice, a blood ritual baptism occurred in Altamont, CA, where Hell's Angels took their prey.

2. Killing The Arab

As it was related to this writer, a Cure cover which may vent against Circle-K or 7-11 vendors, or Middle-Eastern oil embargos; whether or not it is a misconception, generally referring to all people of Middle-Eastern descent as "arabs", which they are obviously not. Keep in mind that this is a cover song, so the lyrical content may not be necessarily shared by EHC, but may have in fact been posted by one Robert Smith.

3. Highway To Hell

AC/DC classic which celebrates the indulgent & passionate ride to the swirling Abyss, & was also a favorite of The Nightstalker Richard Ramirez, & Myself. Do the bells toll for thee?
4. Shout At The Devil

A headbanging good time is promised with this one, with a delighful twist; a cavalcade of sounds. The original recording is also part of My collection.

5. Devil Inside

Underrated song by INXS, which reminds that the Devil is indeed "within every single one of us..." --- the Lust of Life, lest humanimality forget......

Michael Hutchins, singer for INXS, killed himself in an auto-erotic attempt to an incredible neo-necrogasm. For this, I can see the image of Hutchins crucified, with the name of the band written above the cross, in place of "INRI".
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Disc 2

1. Halloween Medley {first time on CD} / 2. Halloween Theme

A familiar variation written by John Carpenter for his landmark movie by the same name. Before this release, this Halloween medley became a Samhein regular at shows. Just as eerie, with a drumbeat added.

3. Incubus

From 'Kiss The Goat' {this Author's favorite EHC release}, which I came into possession under a red night sky, 'Incubus' is the lingam kundalini unleashed upon the ethers by the Passions of Pan & Priapus.
4. Bela Lugosi's Dead

A Bauhaus cover - gives recognition to one of the progenitors of Gothic Rock, & a tribute to the silver screen's most infamous horror actor who played the most infamous horror character, Dracula. Lugosi so personafied the portrayal, he was even buried in his cape-- now that's dedication!

Despite the flack this song has received as being identified with "gothabe's" {goth-wanna'be poseurs who are 'bad bunnies' looking for cheap thrills by merely dressing in black, thus diluting the underground scene}, EHC adds a nice touch with this version.

5. Black No. 1

The cover song of another one of this Author's favorite bands, Type 0 Negative {especially "Bloody Kisses", "October Rust", & "Slow, Deep & Hard"}; I really enjoyed this version.
6. Incubus reprise

Another version of that great 'Kiss The Goat' song.

I enjoyed the way the songs blended & bled together, giving the senses delightful surprises, as one gently overlaps the other like satano-sonic waves.

The one song that I enjoyed most on this double-CD set was undoubtably #6/Disc 1: "The Bishop's Folly", which is an EHC original. And if this is any indication of what is to come {which in fact, it is}, then there surely is a lot to expect.

Hardcore EHC fans will want this in their collections, but for the novice & unfamiliar to the band, you may wish to first purchase "Kiss The Goat", "Satan's Little Helpers", "Calling Dr. Luv", & "Holy Roller."

To become acquainted with Reverend Thorn's musical evilution, seek out "My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult", which incidently, inspired & influenced one Rev. Marilyn Manson.

In My opinion, The best way to experience EHC is through headphones, as it is filled with such a plethora of sounds that should not be missed.

I am lucky enough to own most of this material on their "Trick or Treat" 7" but if you aren't one of the 1000 to have either this or the subsequent "promotional" CD version, then "Empathy" is just what you've been waiting for.

The material on disc one is comprised mostly of covers culled from various tribute albums put out by Cleopatra records over the years. If you're strictly an EHC fan and aren't fond of the gothic/darkwave genre then here you go, all EHC covers put onto one convenient little disc. It also contains a little sample of their latest release and the previously unreleased cover of INXS's "Devil Inside".

The second disc is a Halloween medley containing the previously hard to find "Trick or Treat" stuff. Their cover of the theme from "Halloween" is spot-on and blends seemlessly into the rest of the songs on this disc. I would have preferred that this disc be divided into individual tracks and not just one big medley, however. Their cover of Type O Negative's "Black No.1" is one of my favorite songs here and I can't skip ahead to it without holding down the fast forward button on my CD player. Also, this disc comes minus the Leaether Strip remix of "Incubus" which was on the original vinyl release.

All in all "Empathy for the Devil" is a great collection of songs predominately for EHC's fans and it's a great display of the sense of humor and fun that this band possesses.

Regarding the asinine comment about 7-11s, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_an_Arab

Personally, I give Thomas Thorn & Co. a little more
credit for irony, tongue in cheek, etc. Also, Middle
Eastern oil magnates more perfectly display the
Satanic sensibilities EHC espouse, than the stupid
little Americans with cute gothy pen names
sitting around writing "reviews".

My favorite covers are Sympathy for the Devil, Shout at the Devil, and Devil Inside. Bishop's Folly is a good track off of Witness the Millenium with good lyrical content as usual. Halloween Medley contains more covers and two originals with no breaks. Bela Lugosi's Dead and Black No. 1 are done very well, I especially dig Black No. 1. Overall, a fun disc even if you're not previously into Electric Hellfire Club.

The Electric Hellfire Club has done some great covers, my favorite being the Kiss cover. This CD set is very good. Their covers are nice and dark, and nothing can beat the Haloween medley, which is the reason I bought it. EHC has been making dark music for a while and are some of the best. If you enjoy anything by EHC, get this.

I am a fan of Electric Hellfire Club and got their albums Burn Baby Burn and Kiss The Goat and the album in memory of Shane , Calling Doctor Luv and Unholy Rollers. But I havent heard this album before this is just a comment in defense of my race and definition of race. He/She commented that the song Killing An Arab was probably EHCs frustratiion for Circle K and 7-11 vendors and Middle Eastern Oil companies. I am an Arab female and yes I listen to and like the EHC and never heard this song, but dude , the vendors of 7-11 or Circle K are primarily Indian and / or Pakistani and not even Arab, so dude if they are or thinking they have aggression towards Arabs they are confused. Im just makin it clear that over 90% of the gas stations are owned and operated by Pakistanis or Indians and other people, but not Arabs. I know people gonna be thinkin im trippin or gettin worked up over something small but it big to me , cuz Arabs are not offiliated racially , culturally, linguistically to Indians and/or Pakistanis. Pakistanis are racially Indians and Indians are completely different race/culture ect ect. But when I listen to this album, Ill decide on the album review, but for now, dude you confused ...


Also, I saw EHC live when I was like 18 back in 1998 in Milwaukee at The Rave. I had the privelege of being in the front row area and was about 3-4 feet away from Thomas Thorn singin. I remember, he had devil horns on and his head was no longer bald, but had a mop of blond-browsn tangled hair and was dressed in all leather and had goatee beard. During his Mr 44 song he held up a christian bible and tore it up and lit in on a fire. Im not sure what he did i think it was put in a pit or sumthin, and he threw remenents of it to the crowd and I was lucky enough to have caught like 3 parts of the torn burnt bible. He mesmerized the crowd, including myself with his presence and power and you could tell he was a poser or phony when it came to his Satanic beliefs. After the show I wanted meet him up close and talk to him or sumthin cuz I admired him. So he sat down and i got a few autographs on the torn papers of the bible he threw and also shook his hand. I forget what other keepsakes I got from the show . but I enjoyed seein him live after bein a fan for a long time.

This is a great CD, but the lesser work of the band. Many covers of songs about the devil. I liked the title song the most. The early CDs are the best. I like the Industral stuff more than their rock songs. Wyatt Kaldeneberg.

In France EHC is not so much known and it is really hard to got their CDs! But the first time I heard this one, my world was totally upset... these Church of Satan 's members are the best musician I have ever heard! When will they come to France?

EHC honestly could be one of the most horrible bands in existance. The lyrics could not be cheezier or more horrible. If I were any kind of Satanist, or member of The Church of Satan, I would be appauled that this is an attempt at representing my beliefs. It is simply and utterly shallow.