German band Reptyle is classic gothic rock at its finest.
Just to get this out of the way, if you're the type of fan who's constant
complaint is that there are too many bands that sound like the Sisters
of Mercy, this probably won't be your cup of tea. The similarities are
everywhere; the reverberating drumbeats of "Black Snow," the brooding
intensity of "Just Like You," and the driving guitars of "Where I Come
From" all invite comparisons to the early work of Andrew Eldritch and
friends. Then there's the baritone of lead vocalist Zulu; on "Under
the Hammer" he's grim yet intimate, but on "Bought Me a Lie" and "One
Touch," his voice gets so deep he's not even singing actual notes, unless
they're distinguishable on some subsonic range outside of what mere
human ears can perceive. There's a reason that so many Sisters of Mercy-inspired
bands, Reptyle included, have done so well, though, and that's craftsmanship.
Like Eldritch himself, this group has a real ear for solid, gloomy rockers,
as evidenced by the adrenaline-packed "All Is Love" and the more epic
"Honest Liar," and the dual guitars of Keule and Slash (not to be confused
with the the identically-named guitarist of Guns 'n' Roses fame) add
heaviness and impact to the moody "Great Opportunities" and dirge-like
"Tower of Bridges." There may be more than a touch of imitation here,
but Reptyle are draw their influence from one of the scene's most influential
bands, and they do it with an overabundance of style and class. Matthew Johnson (GraveConcerns) |