Serenity Is the Devil

Icon of Coil | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 14, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 14, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metropolis Records
• ASIN: B00004Z3U7
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,328 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > Alternative Rock > Goth & Industrial > Industrial > Industrial Dance
  • #36 in Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > General
  • #49 in Music > Alternative Rock > Goth & Industrial > Industrial > Alt Industrial

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great album of EBM/futurepop, November 17, 2002

By 

Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Serenity Is the Devil (Audio CD)

I was perusing the used cd bins last weekend at my favorite record store when I found a copy of "Serenity is the Devil". I was surprised that someone would be willing to part with this cd, much less anything from Metropolis Records. I guess "what is one person's junk is another person's treasure", and "Serenity Is the Devil" is no exception to that rule. I got into Icon of Coil when I picked up their new album "The Soul Is in the Software", being a big fan of bands on Metropolis Records (KMFDM, VNV Nation, Project Pitchfork, Bella Morte, Diary of Dreams, Apoptygma Berzerk). I had no idea what I had in store for me today .... I didn't realize I would strike gold and find two albums by two Metropolis acts (Die Form and Icon of Gold). Anyways, being a big fan of Icon of Coil, I immediately bought the album (as well as Die Form's "Confessions"). I love Icon's brand of EBM/futurepop. It took me a few listens for their new album to grow on me but with "Serenity Is the Devil", I loved it immediately. "Serenity Is the Devil" didn't start off with fairly aggressive tracks like "The Soul Is in the Software" did. It was a smooth transition from a more mellower song such as "Situations Like These" to "Faction", a much more aggressive song. For me, the one song on this album that really stuck out for me like a sore thumb is "Everlasting", Icon's equivalent to VNV Nation's "Beloved" and Apoptygma Berzerk's "Until the End of the World". The melodies are just divine, and the lyrics are absolutely perfect in that same emotional sense that I get when I listen to "Beloved" and "Until the End of the World". There isn't one song on this album that I did not like or that required a few more listens to grow on me. I may like "Serenity Is the Devil" slightly more than their new album, the band can do no wrong with me. Just another awesome Metropolis band.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars grows old very fast, January 3, 2007

By 

Daniel Ambrus (Louisville, KY United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Serenity Is the Devil (Audio CD)

in stark contrast to some other albums i own such as Forever Slave - Alice's Inferno and Helium Vola (self titled), Icon of Coil's first full album hooked me instantly. unfortunately, it also released me pretty fast, like after the 8th or 9th time through the album, while the aforementioned albums continue to have a strong grip on me after initially weak impressions.

i have not really listened to this album since putting it down the first time, except to show my friends. in other words, staying power = 0.


however, while i was hooked, i really did enjoy their catchy, dancey beats that straddled the line between my most beloved genre of trance and one of my other favorites, industrial. probably their biggest weakness is the flatness of their vocalist, who fortuantely is not called on to perform much range or the whole thing could have turned rather ugly. as it is, his monotone droning probably comes close to actually detracting something from the music rather than adding to it. someone with a bit more charisma would be in order i think.

on the other hand, their female vocalist is quite gifted, and i would have liked to hear more form her.

most of the music, as i have said is dancefloor worthy, immediately catchy, and never memorable. however you will have fun for the first few weeks after you buy this, grooving in your car or humming under your breath at work. for that it is certainly worth a purchase. and the vocals really could be worse.. they could be apoptygma berzerk. now that guy really is awful.

4 stars for good entartainment, good female vocals and danceworthy beats.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time favorite EBM cds, September 29, 2008

By 

E. Anderson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Serenity Is the Devil (Audio CD)

If you are familiar with Combichrist, you would know that Icon of Coil is Andy Laplegua's other band. Icon of Coil is alot more polished than Combichrist's music but still as catchy and aggressive. It was through IoC I was introduced to Combichrist. Of all the IoC albums I have bought and/or heard, SERENITY IS THE DEVIL remains my personal favorite IoC cd. I recently bought another copy of the cd after having sold it 3-4 years ago. The music remains as fresh and exciting for me as it was when I first heard the album. For me what makes this album so memorable is the infectious pop hooks and pulsating dance beats. All of the songs are driven by a throbbing bassline that will make anyone want to get up and dance. The lyrics are reminscent of VNV Nation and Apoptygma Berzerk. There is lots of angst, joy, sorrow, and regret. Andy's familiar vocals are here but slicker. The only quibble I have with the album is repetition music wise as well as Andy's vocals but it all depends on what sort of mood I am in otherwise I love the cd. SERENITY IS THE DEVIL remains a classic EBM album in my cd collection.