The 1985 album by Sisters of Mercy was to become the standard by which all later gothic rock albums would be measured. The dark psychedelic rock sound accompanied by Andrew Eldritch’s sepulchral voice and a drum machine that took on a life of its own in an eerie way was style-setting for a whole generation of gothic rock bands and is still part of the standard repertoire of every gothic party today. However, the success of the album did not do the band any good and they broke up soon after its release.

Legend has it that Eldritch was so heavily drugged during the recordings that he ran into walls and several times the recordings had to be stopped. Surprisingly, however, as an MFSL re-issue, the album is very successful. While the gloominess of the music drives violently under the skin through the now even deeper basses, previously hidden fine details in the keyboards shine like never before. Even the German lyrics on Marian suddenly become more understandable.

1. Black Planet
2. Walk Away
3. No Time To Cry
4. A Rock and a Hard Place
5. Marian
6. First and Last and Always
7. Possession
8. Nine While Nine
9. Amphetamine Logic
10. Some Kind of Stranger
11. Poison Door
12. On the Wire
13. Blood Money
14. Bury Me Deep
15. Long Train
16. Some Kind of Stranger (Early Remastered)