Holy

In Strict Confidence | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 3, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metropolis Records
• ASIN: B00018D4WW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,726 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fans of darker music can find their religion in Holy., February 9, 2004

By 

Jack Wells "Jack Wells" (West Haven, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Holy (Audio CD)

Holy is the latest offering by ISC, and was certainly worth the wait. Continuing where Mistrust The Angels left off, Holy takes the darkwave/industrial genre to new heights, while still remaining faithful to their roots. Fans of industrial, synthpop, darkwave, ethereal, and gothic music can all find their religion in Holy, and is a must have for any ISC fan. Each track is very well executed, with only the final track leaving a bit to be desired.

Eye Of Heaven - Begins the album nicely. A mid-tempo track that starts slow, drawing the listener in, then builds to a catchy quicker beat. Sampled guitars help feed the rhythm, while orchestral synthesizers build to the climax. Classic ISC vocals throughout. Interesting lyrics help propel this good choice of an album opener.

Seven Lives - One of my favorites on the album, and certainly a departure from anything ISC has done before. More anthemic, more pop structured, as much "mainstream" as industrial. It moves along at a very moderate pace, neither slow nor fast. Still retains the well executed synthesizers and drum arrangements, and the vocals are clearer than usual, showing more depth and feeling. All this plus great lyrics too! Could easily be the second single from Holy.

Babylon - The first single taken from the album, and surprisingly enough, one of my least favorite tracks. The only song sung in German. Lacks the power and intensity of the other tracks. Mid-tempo, like the first two songs. Snippets of piano float in the background, and the bassline is very fat and rhythmic. A very solid though somewhat uninspired track. On a side note, this is my girlfriend's favorite song on the album, and she is not really an industrial fan. But likes it when I play it. Go figure!

Closing Eyes - More upbeat than the previous tracks, with the traditional four-on-the-floor beat and faster synth lines. Nadine Stelzer and Dennis Ostermann share vocal duties on this track, each contributing alternating lines, and then switching to a duet on the chorus. I have always liked Nadine's voice, and the track works well with both of them on vocals. Some synthpop elements make an appearance here, with synth strings that could fit well on a VNV Nation song.

Heal Me - Slower than Closing Eyes, following the same steady rhythm of the first three tracks. Orchestral synths take center stage here, lending the track an epic feel. Not a song to pull you on to the dance floor, but still a good track, and it fits the tone of the album perfectly. The shortest track on the album, and only slightly repetitious, but not in a bad way.

Emergency - This is where the album switches gears. The synthesizers are more ambient this time around, but still very much ISC material. The first of two tracks on this album with Antje Schulz, of the German ethereal act Chandeen, on vocals. Though the tone is darker than her usual work, her voice fits this style of music very well. I have always loved her voice, and it has certainly found a home here. Catchy, only slightly poppy, with a stuttering beat and rhythm. A new and satisfying direction for ISC.

Another Night - The second of the heavy songs on Holy. Guitars make a return, as well as the heavier driving drums and synths. More like the ISC of Mistrust and Love Kills!. A return to form for Dennis' vocals, which until now have been less distorted and angry. This track is very catchy, and keeps your feet or fingers tapping in time. The heaviest track on this album, certainly guaranteed to please longstanding ISC fans. Another contender for the next single.

No Love Will Heal - Another mid-tempo track, a little faster than the others, with a driving beat and syncopated synths that march steadily on. Some quasi-techno hooks come into play, pairing up nicely with the stuttering drum track. Another song that would have felt right at home on Mistrust The Angels. Classic ISC, with all the trimmings.

The Darkest Corridors - Easily my favorite track on the album. Starts out with darkwave ambience, and then recurring synths that hook you. Then the drum kicks in, giving way to a driving track that commands attention. Dennis sings the verses, while Nadine returns to deliver the chorus as only she can. The last of the heavier tracks on Holy, and another great example of how male and female vocals, if done right, can really benefit a song. Soft chants emerge halfway through, before the song kicks back into high gear. A great song to be driving fast to. My choice for the second single from this album.

Sleepless - The second track on the album featuring Antje on vocals. Very slow track, with deep resonating bass and minimal synths. Very ambient track, slipping into the Massive Attack vein. If you liked Antje on the Chandeen album "Spacerider", you'll like her here. Longstanding ISC fans may not like this song, but if you liked the b-side Blue Light from the Babylon single, then you should like this too. It could have been a good track to close out the CD, but...

Alpha Centauri - Very long instrumental track. Minimalistic approach to the synths and strings. This track is great on headphones in a dark room or as mood music with someone special, but not much use in everyday listening. Fits the tone of the album fine, but just doesn't inspire or stand out. Good companion song to the bonus track Alpha Omega on the limited edition of Holy, if you were lucky enough to find that.

All in all, a very recommended album, especially to those who like all genres of dark music. Excellent production values, great artwork and booklet, intriguing lyrics, and a true perfectionists attention to detail. Has yet to leave my CD player.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black rainbows fight the light, August 15, 2005

By 

Staring Girl "Staring Girl" (Thornton, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Holy (Audio CD)

This is a gem in my collection. The music is dark industrial/gothic yet softer and less gritty than their other stuff. The album is almost all in English and has the accompaniment of a few female vocalists (not sure who they are). The combination of Dennis's voice and the female vocalists are very complementary and give a wonderful quality to the music. I read one reviewer complain that the singing was monotone. Yes, I have to agree, it is rather monotone in some songs, but it creats a very surreal, troubled, and somber feel to the music. There is a lot of emotion and passion in the music.

Dennis's voice sort of reminds me of Jean Luc DeMeyer a bit; he as this low, gruff, sexy singing style. The instrumentation is wonderful as well. There is a lot of layering and building with strong beats in the music; very danceable. I guess the instrumentation could be compaired to Front Line Assembly.

The lyrics are immersing and a bit controversial. The bare breasted nun on the front cover should have been a dead give away to anyone who is shocked and appalled by their many references to religious figures in their music. My favorite track on the album is `Closing eyes'.

The artwork on the album is remarkable as well. I guess a lot of stores like Hot Topics have a problem with it though and are refusing to sell it. It's a shame too because it's a beautiful picture; very artfully done. It's still amazing me some of the crap and violence that is allowed in our culture (like on TV), yet tasteful art is frowned upon.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern masterpiece of electronic music, February 3, 2004

By 

Ted Del Prato "technodemon" (Acworth, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Holy (Audio CD)

I have been a fan of In Strict Confidence for some time now, and I think it's safe to say that this is their best album. Holy is pure electro-industrial bliss from start to finish. Gone are the noisy abstract tracks that plagued the flow of ISC's past albums. Alpha Centauri is the only instrumental/atmospheric track present...but since it's placed at the end of the album it serves as an excellent outro. Even though not every track is a high bpm club song, they are orchastrated just right to keep the listener stimulated, and the lyrics are some of the best the band has produced as well. The addition of the electric guitar in a couple of the songs gives them that extra dark edge, and the angelic vocals of Nadine Stelzer and Antje Schulz blend beautifully with the haunting synthesizer melodies. The conclusion is simple...if you love dark electronic music, whether you are long-time ISC fan or not, definitely buy this album.