8 out of 10
Find it here.
*Pandemic*--defined in *Webster's Dictionary* as "of a disease, universal; widely distributed; affecting a nation."
Originally released on Red Ant Records in 2003. Pandemic was stuck in legal limbo for five years. Patrick Briggs, singer and conceptual artist re-released Pandemic on Halloween 2008 on Toxic Shock records. This is Psychotica's third and final album. These songs are Gothic in the true sense of that term -- sweeping, harrowing, romantic epics that, if they must be compared to anything else, are reminiscent of big-sounding, triumphant Goth opuses like the Sisters Of Mercy with a space age re-vamping. This album is largly influenced by his early-'80s adolescence: gender-bending and/ or genre-defying artists like Japan, Queen, Siouxsie, Devo, Bauhaus, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, the Go-Go's, Blondie--rather than the expected '70s glitter-rock influences of T-Rex and Bowie. The presence of a 12-piece string orchestra, as well as the setting where the album was recorded -- Great Lindford Manor, an 11th century castle in Milton Keynes, England -- also add a classical element to Psychotica's massive, orchestral sound.
Psychotica is not now, nor have they ever been a shock-rock glam band. They will go to great lengths to put on a great energetic and stylish show. Creating music with substance and mood, songs such as "Oceans Of Hunger," "Euthanasia," "Contradiction," and "Monsoon" give witness to there ability.
Originally released on Red Ant Records in 2003. Pandemic was stuck in legal limbo for five years. Patrick Briggs, singer and conceptual artist re-released Pandemic on Halloween 2008 on Toxic Shock records. This is Psychotica's third and final album. These songs are Gothic in the true sense of that term -- sweeping, harrowing, romantic epics that, if they must be compared to anything else, are reminiscent of big-sounding, triumphant Goth opuses like the Sisters Of Mercy with a space age re-vamping. This album is largly influenced by his early-'80s adolescence: gender-bending and/ or genre-defying artists like Japan, Queen, Siouxsie, Devo, Bauhaus, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, the Go-Go's, Blondie--rather than the expected '70s glitter-rock influences of T-Rex and Bowie. The presence of a 12-piece string orchestra, as well as the setting where the album was recorded -- Great Lindford Manor, an 11th century castle in Milton Keynes, England -- also add a classical element to Psychotica's massive, orchestral sound.
Psychotica is not now, nor have they ever been a shock-rock glam band. They will go to great lengths to put on a great energetic and stylish show. Creating music with substance and mood, songs such as "Oceans Of Hunger," "Euthanasia," "Contradiction," and "Monsoon" give witness to there ability.
The re-release of this album came to me as a wonderful surprise, it wasn't until recently did i learn that this album was originally recorded in 2003 but it couldn't be more relevant then if it was recorded today right now in my living room.. oh perchance to dream.
Standout Tracks: Fools Gold, Euthanasia, Harlow
Fools gold is a stone roses song, so I'm super pumped to hear a weird goth version of it. You should bring it around this weekend.
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