Miserylab - Lab Samples

Miserylab - Lab Samples
(2009) Shadowplay

I'm eagerly awaiting the next Miserylab compilation album, but this russian 2009 sampler will have to do for now. Miserylab is Porl King's (ex. Rosetta Stone singer/guitarist) main gothic rock project.
Miserylab is constantly getting better and better, so I really think this is a band worth checking out.

Sivert Höyem - Moon Landing

Sivert Höyem - Moon Landing
(2009) Hektor

This is the first album from former Madrugada singer Sivert Höyem. I really liked Madrugada, and this album sounds almost like Madrugada. I'm really sorry I've missed Sivert's first solo album,  "Ladies And Gentlemen Of The Opposition" released in 2004. But now that I know he can manage without Madrugada I'm going to check out that album as well!

Order Of Isaz - Order Of Isaz EP

Order Of Isaz - Order Of Isaz EP
(2009) Blackened Flame

Finally some gothic rock. The members of  Order Of Isaz have all been/or are active in the Swedish death metal-underground. That gives them a certain sound, maybe like Tenebre or the latter Love Like Blood. Not that it's metal, it's just
sounds like metal musicians playing goth. Nothing bad by that.
Check it out!

Candlemass - Death Magic Doom

Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
Limited CD/DVD (2009)
Nuclear Blast

I've been reading so many good review about this album. Finally I've found the time to listen to it (and of course, finally I've been motivated enough to buy it!). This is a great and varied doom metal album. The new singer, Robert Lowe, has a great voice and fits the Candlemass sound perfectly! I really enjoyed his previous band Solitude Aeturnus' two first albums back in the early 90's. I don't know why I haven't listened to them since then. Maybe I need to check them out now? This limited edition includes a DVD wich I haven't had the time to watch yet. It also includes an unlisted bonus track, an edit of "Lucifer Rising" I think.

Katatonia - Night Is The New Day

Katatonia -
Night Is The New Day
(2009) Peaceville

This album just get's better and better. I don't think that it is as good as all the raving reviews I've read about it, though. I would like longer, more epic songs. But I guess I can't have it all? I will have to keep listening, and eventually I find that it is as good as everybody else thinks.

Biomekkanik - State Of Perfection

Biomekkanik - State Of
Perfection (2009)
SubSpace Communications

This is not the best album released in 2009 nor the best band-name I've ever heared about. But the CD contains some really good songs like "Pitch Black Ocean", "State Of Perfection" and a few more. I can't understand why they chose to include a dull cover of Peaches' fantastic "Fuck The Pain Away", though. They should've saved it as a bonus track for an EP or something instead!

Waves Under Water - Serpents And The Tree

Waves Under Water -
Serpents And The Tree
(2009) Calorique/Danse
Macabre

I can't find a better start for 2010 than to award an unknown Swedish synthpop-act the first Record Of The Week. I'm not a synth-pop fan. Sure I like Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode, but that's about it. This album has some catchy, up-tempo songs that I like, though. Not that far away from future-pop. I know most people hate the term, but I kinda like it. At least you know what to expect...

52 Kraftwerk - Der Katalog

Kraftwerk - Der Katalog
8CD (2009) EMI

I've just bought myself the best Christmas present I'll ever get. The German version of the Kraftwerk 8CD remaster box. There's not much to say, really. The music's awesome, the artwork is astoundingly nice and the CD's sounds better than anyone could expect.

The Devil's Blood - The Time Of No Time Evermore

The Devil's Blood -
The Time Of No Time
Evermore (2009)
Ván

Maybe the best rock/metal album released in 2009. I can't compare this to any other band, it's truly uniqe. I've heared them being compared to artist such as Thin Lizzy and Roky Erikson and yeah, maybe there's some traces of  those bands in their music. I'm going to add (old) Merciful Fate to the list of  possible influences, as well. Listen to "Crist Or Cocaine" and "Angel's Prayer", it doesn't get any better this year!

AC/DC - Backtracks

AC/DC - Backtracks
2CD/DVD (2009)
Columbia

This box collects hard to get studio and live tracks from 1974 - 2000 and some promo videos and features that didn't fit on the Family Jewels DVD-set. Finally I'm able to listen to "Cold Hearted Man" and "Carry Me Home" in decent quality! There's not much to say. If you like AC/DC you will like this, otherwise just stay away.

The Eden House - The Looking Glass EP

The Eden House -

The Looking Glass EP/

DVD (2009) Jungle

I got this from Germany as it seems it won't be released before 2010 anywhere else. This is basically The Fields Of The Nephilim playing songs by Björk, The Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, Radiohead and the Shangri-Las with different female vocalists. Go ahead, you know you'll like it!

Kite - II EP

Kite - II EP (2009)
Progress


I really like the idea of a band that only release ep's. Now, I don't think that's the case with Kite. This is their second ep, and second release, as well. But I'm sure they will be releasing proper albums in the future. I have no problem with that if they can continue releasing records as strong as these two ep's. This ep is even better than the first ep "Kite".

Mesh - A Perfect Solution

Mesh - A Perfect Solution
(2009) Dependent

There's so many great electronic releases this autumn. It's hard to just pick one each week. I've never been a fan of Mesh before, but this album rocks! It's dark and powerful. Just like Depeche Mode should've sounded on their last three or four albums. Stand-out tracks are "Only Better" and "Who Says", but all songs are great. The only thing I don't like with this album is the short instrumental snippets between most of the songs.

Rotersand - Random Is Resistance

Rotersand -
Random Is Resistance
(2009) Trisol

Rotersands best album so far. Waiting To Be Born is maybe the only song on this album I would choose as a single. Rotersand chose an inferior version of the song War On Error instead. The album version is really cool, but I don't care much for the single version. Get this album now! It has great, varied songs and no fillers!

Ikon - Love, Hate And Sorrow

Ikon - Love, Hate And Sorrow 2CD
(2009) Nile

I've been waiting for ages on a new studio album from Ikon. Finally it has arrived. And what an album! It includes the singles "Amongst The Runes" and "A Line On A Dark Day" (well "A Line On A Dark Day" is the first song on the "League Of Nations" EP, but never mind that). It also includes a live favourite featured on "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams Volume 2", "All Dephts Of Despair". I love this album, it's sort of a new style from Ikon. There's guitars everywhere!
And I haven't even mentioned the acoustic bonus CD yet. I just love the acoustic "Stalag 13" and "Torn Apart"!

Assemblage 23 - Compass

Assemblage 23 -
Compass 2CD (2009)
Metropolis/Accession

Finally! The new A23. This album takes off where A23's last album "Meta" left us. Slower and more varied songs. Get the limited 2CD version, some of the exclusive songs are among the best Tom ever wrote!

Pagan Love Songs Vol.2

VA - Pagan Love Songs Vol.2 -
Antitainment Compilation 2CD (2009)
Alice In ...

This is a compilation CD containing both new and old gothic rock. It features bands like Dream Disciples, Love Like Blood, Screaming Marionettes, The Eden House and a stunning new recording on one of Ikon's best songs "Echoes Of Slience (2009)". All get happy!

Boulevard Of Broken Dreams Vol. 2

Ikon - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams Volume 2
CDr (2009)
Not On Label

This was originally released as a free mp3 download on http://www.ikondomain.com/ I'm glad it finally got to be released as a real CD (well, as a CDr at least) limited to 100 copies. The disc contains a live-show recorded in Marsielle, France on 7. 5. 2007. It's by far the best of all available Ikon live-CD's!