Title: Written In Ashes
Item No.: LTX002
Release: January, 2004
One-Sheet: [download PDF]
Written In Ashes' self-titled release features a new sound and lineup for 2004. Written In Ashes is the new sound of Goth featuring the talents of group founder Kevyn Hay along with music veterans Ashe Ruppe (The Elysium Facade, Trance to the Sun, and Nocturne~pdx~), Jason Carter (Black Winter, Love Nancy Sugar), and Damon Law (theStark, sexwithsarah). WIA has been likened to the 80's Goth sound infused with modern darkwave and industrial grooves. I call it Neue-Goth but what use are labels? Call it what you want their sound is sure to make a lasting impression on both the rock music scene as well as the goth/industrial 'underground'. With a dark and intricate mixture of instrumentation WIA combines dark melodies and danceable electronics.
"Darkwave music veterans Written In Ashes return to the music arena with their strongest offering to date. The band's sound is very similar to classic Christian Death, and Kevyn D. Hay's vocals are reminiscient of Nosferatu's Dominic Lavey. The CD begins with "Solemnity VI," a cool atmospheric intro piece that blends electronic music with an old recording of a speech given in German. What follows is a solid musical assault comprised of some of the best goth-rock tracks released in recent years. Standout cuts include "Unfaith," which blends sensual lyrics with hard-edged guitar riffs, "Gypsum Rain," which is offered as two different mixes, and the eerie "Hell, Hope & High Water." This CD is solid from start to finish and should definitely launch Written In Ashes to the forefront of their genre. Highly recommended."
~ Randy Rosko (Dark Realms Magazine, Issue # 14)
"Written in Ashes paints the world with a bruised pallet, blending classic traditional Cure-esque guitar flange with well-crafted duo vocals and efficient backbeats, bringing back some of the tragedy into Goth music while retaining a progression into aggressive harmonic symphony. 'All I Ever Wanted' sweeps the listener away into forlorn longings while 'Of Hope, Hell, & High Water' carries a Rosetta Stone-like determination to fight against personalized tyrannies. 'Lament for Lanore' takes a decidedly more morose turn, while 'Maskin' embodies a serpentine element. Written in Ashes is a must for the consumer of classic Goth sounds and thematics."
~ Joel Podbereski (MK Magazine)
01. Solemnity VI
02. The Sea
03. All I Never Wanted
04. Of Hell, Hope and High Water
05. Pale September
06. Lament For Lanore
07. By The By
08. Maskin
09. Unfaith
10. Gypsum Rain (hallowed ground mix)
11. Solemnity VII
12. Gypsum Rain (original)
Audio:
All I Never Wanted
Of Hell, Hope and High Water
Unfaith
CD Reviews:
Chain D.L.K.
Chain D.L.K.#2
Dark Realms #14
Kronic.it
Gothic Beauty
Grave Concerns
The Haven
Interviews:
Musicwerks