VARIOUS ARTISTS
Darken My Fire (A Tribute To The Doors) (Cleopatra)
Reviewed by Bill Holmes

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What a decadently excellent choice for a Cleopatra tribute! Featuring several of the hottest bands in the genre, Darken My Fire will wow Goth fans while fascinating those Doors fans with wide bandwidth.

Two of my favorite Goth bands come up winners again here--Spahn Ranch is perfectly eerie channeling "Strange Days," and Mephisto Walz's "Peace Frog" illuminates the dark lyrics while still making the song irresistibly danceable. Eerie Von's "The Spy" sounds like Sparks and Kraftwerk having a fistfight. The Mission UK's "Love Me Two Times" retains the charm and pulse of the single while draping it with the appropriate dark cloud, as does Rhea's Obsession with the haunting "End Of The Night." Controlled Bleeding didn't have to stray too far from the original for "When The Music's Over" to fit right in.

Naturally, some tracks are not as accessible for the common ear. The Newlydead's rap/metal "Hello I Love You" turns the loopy lyrics on their ear, and The Electric Hellfire Club's "Light My Fire" makes Marilyn Manson sound like... well, Jose Feliciano.

You just know that Jim Morrison would have loved this. Hell, he probably heard some of the songs this way in his head! So whether you are a Doors fan, a Goth fan, or a reclusive 55-year-old man roaming Paris in black leather pants... check this out.

© 2000 - Bill Holmes