Genre/Influences: Gothic, wave-pop.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Clan Of Xymox that’s now more than three decades of involvement and an impressive discography as legacy. Three years after the last studio-album “Days Of Black”, Ronny Moorings is back with a new opus featuring ten songs. The album was preceded by the singles “She” and “Lovers” revealing –or confirming the poppy new-wave style of this gothic ambassador.
Content: Clan Of Xymox still has this good-old 80s sound and spirit, but the work evolved throughout the years. The previous album clearly explored some catchy gothic fields and “Spider on the Wall” takes a similar path. The songs always have something dark, but still featuring catchy arrangements. The guitar parts are often reminding me of The Cure while the electronic treatments inject this little extra resulting in melodic choruses. But other passages of the album are holding on the magic of the past days featuring melancholic songs.
+ + + : You can always have interesting debates about a band like Clan Of Xymox; some will say their best work has been released a long time ago, but I’m convinced this band just moved on; holding on to some basic elements of their early creation while adding new elements on top. That’s evolution and “Spider On The Wall” perfectly symbolizes this spirit. It’s a sonic bridge between the past and the present and a logical next step after the previous full length. I like this fusion from 80s music together with catchy arrangements. The familiar songs “She” and “Lovers” both opening the album remain the finest parts of this new work. But I also have to mention “All I Ever Know”; this song has something magic in the way it sounds dark and yet it makes you feel good. The last attention grabber I want to mention is “Black Mirror” for its melancholic touch.
– – – : The album doesn’t seduce me as much as “Days Of Black”; I guess I’m missing a real hit!
Conclusion: Clan Of Xymox brings a well-crafted and pleasant album, but not ‘the’ work that will be etched on the band’s epitaph.
Best songs: “All I Ever Know”, “She”, “Lovers”, “Black Mirror”, “I Don’t Like Myself”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.clanofxymox.com / www.facebook.com/clanofxymox.official
Label: www.trisol.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Trisol-Music-Group/104166526285471
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