CoC : Various - Beauty in Darkness 5 : Review

Various - _Beauty in Darkness 5_
(Nuclear Blast, 2001)
by: Quentin Kalis (7.5 out of 10)

The latest instalment in Nuclear Blast's vaguely monikered "Dark Music" series can be better described as a gothic music sampler -- though even this description is inadequate, as a number of featured bands (such as Dimmu Borgir and Nevermore) do not sit comfortably within this category. Highlights include Theatre of Tragedy's contribution, the exquisite "Image" -- which Liv Kristine sings in French, her ethereal vocals adding an extra dimension of sensuality to the song, something which was missing from the English version. Mandragora Scream are a new gothic band from Italy and they offer "Cryin' Clouds" off their debut album. It sounds as if a woman is singing, but apparently it is a man providing the vocals. Irrespective of whether it's a man or woman singing, the androgynous vocals are a refreshing change from the plethora of female vocals and Eldritch-esque vocals that plague goth-inspired acts. Of course there are also bad tracks, most notably Dimmu Borgir's "Puritania" -- a noisy meandering piece of neo-industrial garbage. Not to mention Crematory's feeble gothic metal contribution. But the album's major flaw is a lack of metal in comparison to earlier _BiD_ releases. Many established bands which have contributed to previous _BiD_ releases have mellowed considerably -- such as Therion and Theatre of Tragedy --, creating a softer overall feel to the album. Another four tracks are by bands who are not and never have been metal. One of these tracks does not even so much as feature a guitar. Despite a few bad selections, this is a pretty good album. But even after repeated listenings one cannot help but think that this is a compilation of goth songs with metal elements rather then a compilation of metal songs with goth elements.

(article published 19/10/2001)

ALBUMS
29/12/2010	C Drishner	8	Various - Tribute to H.P. Lovecraft - Gate 1: Yogsothery - Chaosmogonic Rituals of Fear
14/12/2010	N Shahpazov	8.5	Various - Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings
2/4/2010	Q Kalis		Various - Rising of Yog-Sothoth: Tribute to Thergothon
8/1/2009	C Drishner		Various - Anthrosphere Volume 1
17/9/2008	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - My Own Wolf: A New Approach to Ulver
9/8/2008	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Metal Message IV
22/6/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - ...Where Tattered Clouds Are Stranding
17/6/2008	Q Kalis	5.5	Various - Extreme Metal Inside
13/6/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right: Nordic Warchants II
11/6/2008	Q Kalis	4.5	Various - Bajo el Signo de la Violencia: Tribute to Masacre
7/10/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Rise of the Eastern Blood
24/7/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right - Nordic Warchants Pt. I
4/7/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Aural Holograms Vol. I
20/4/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - Noise.IL
15/4/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Fine-Tuned Disasters
5/4/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Defaced and Split
25/3/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Fuck the Modern World
8/3/2007	J Ulrey	7.5	Various - Intoxicated Vol. 4
24/2/2007	K Sarampalis	7	Various - Metal Message Vol III
28/1/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - A Reassuring Voice on the Television
9/1/2007	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Hauautagused Karjed Vol. II: Estonian Extreme Metal Compilation
26/12/2006	Q Kalis	8	Various - All My Dead Friends
7/11/2005	N Shahpazov	7	Various - The Wood Brothers
10/1/2005	T DePalma	7.5	Various - Listen Without Distraction - A Tribute to Kyuss
19/10/2004	P Azevedo	7	Various - Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
17/1/2004	A McKay	3.5	Various - Defenders of Metal Volume 1 - The Seduction
16/11/2003	X Hoose	7	Various - Japanese Assault
31/8/2003	J Montague	8	Various - Barbaric Onslaught (Australian Metal Attack)
29/5/2003	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Victory Through Total Domination: Compilation No. III
27/5/2003	A Wee	7	Various - The Obsolete View
5/4/2003	P Azevedo	8	Various - Better Undead Than Alive
31/3/2003	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - Svartmetall Compilation 2001
26/3/2003	X Hoose	4	Various - Covered in Blood: A Tribute to Slayer
12/4/2002	B Meloon	6	Various - Czech Assault
12/4/2002	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - The Bells of the Mystical Empire
14/1/2002	A Wee	6	Various - Hellion Promo Vol II
14/1/2002	A McKay	7	Various - Colorado Colossus
12/8/2001	A McKay	2	Various - Brazilian Assault
12/8/2001	V Eldefors	7	Various - Triarchy of Vasconia
12/8/2001	A Wee	9	Various - Black Metal Blitzkrieg
13/5/2001	A Wee	8	Various - The Return of Darkness and Hate
13/5/2001	A McKay	8	Various - Requiems of Revulsion: A Tribute to Carcass
13/3/2001	A McKay	4	Various - Chamber Metal: Neo-Classical Metal Guitar
13/3/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Overload 2: Tribute to Metallica
10/1/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Scream Forth Blasphemy: A Tribute to Morbid Angel
20/11/2000	A McKay	2	Various - Dead Zeppelin - A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin
20/11/2000	A McKay	6.5	Various - In the Sign of the Horns - A Tribute to Venom
20/11/2000	G Sanchez	7	Various - Economi$ed
20/11/2000	G Sanchez	8	Various - Coalescence
25/10/2000	A McKay	6	Various - Gateway to Hell 2: Tribute to Slayer
25/10/2000	A McKay	7	Various - King Diamond Tribute
25/10/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - World of Pain -- A Tribute to Sepultura
25/10/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - Jump in the Pit -- A Tribute to Testament
25/10/2000	A McKay	9.5	Various - Root of All Evil 2000 2nd Anniversary Sampler
12/8/2000	A McKay	5	Various - Raise the Flag of Hate: A Tribute to Kreator
12/8/2000	A McKay	8	Various - Curse of the Demon: A Tribute to Mercyful Fate
25/5/2000	A Bromley	3	Various - Power From the North
25/5/2000	A Bromley	7.5	Various - Panther: A Tribute to Pantera
5/3/2000	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Holy Dio: Tribute to Ronnie James Dio
15/1/2000	M Noll	2	Various - A Tribute to Accept
15/1/2000	P Azevedo	8	Various - To Magic...
9/12/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - 21st Century Media Blitz Vol. 2
9/12/1999	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains
12/8/1999	A McKay	3	Various - A Tribute to Hell: Satanic Rites
12/8/1999	P Schwarz	3	Various - ECW Extreme Music
12/8/1999	G Sanchez	6	Various - Lobot Manual
12/8/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Needlepoint
12/8/1999	A McKay	9	Various - White: Nightmares in the End
7/7/1999	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Death... Is Just the Beginning 5
15/6/1999	P Azevedo	5	Various - Psyclone Sinphonies
15/6/1999	A Wasylyk	6.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness Vol. 3
15/6/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - Smells Like Team Spirit III
19/5/1999	G Sanchez	6.5	Various - Extreme America 3
19/5/1999	A McKay	7	Various - Straight to Hell -- A Tribute to Slayer
19/5/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Freak Animal Zine #11 CD
19/5/1999	P Azevedo	8	Various - Where We Go, Others Can Only Follow...
19/5/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Chords of the Grave
19/5/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - To Live Is Ever to Be in Danger
14/3/1999	A Bromley	7	Various - Black Mark Tribute II
14/3/1999	A McKay	7	Various - In Conspiracy With Satan
14/3/1999	G Sanchez	8	Various - WWF - The Music Vol. 3
13/2/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Full Moon Productions Sampler CD
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	5	Various - Roadkill
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	7	Various - Feuersturm Vol. II: The Ultimate Storm
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - Wardance
16/1/1999	A Cantwell	8	Various - From Kaamos to Midnight Sun -- Finnish Metal Compilation
19/11/1998	A Bromley	8	Various - GRRRR!!: Extreme Music From Vancouver
1/10/1998	P Schwarz	7	Various - Cry Now, Cry Later -- Vols. 3 & 4
1/10/1998	A Cantwell	7	Various - Songs From the Penalty Box: Volume 2
1/10/1998	P Schwarz	8	Various - Amduscias
1/9/1998	P Azevedo	6	Various - High Radiation 4
1/9/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call on the Dark II
1/9/1998	B Meloon	7	Various - Bestial Sampler: 1997-1998
1/9/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Fiesta Comes Alive!
1/9/1998	P Schwarz	9	Various - Statements of Intent
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	6	Various - Blackened III
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Statements of Intent
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Sepultural Feast: A Tribute to Sepultura
7/6/1998	P Azevedo		Various - Peaceville X
7/6/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call To Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden
7/6/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Voyager: 10 Years Nuclear Blast
7/6/1998	B Meloon	8	Various - Until the End of Time
1/1/1998	A Wasylyk	5	Various - A Declaration of Independence
1/1/1998	A Gaudrault	7	Various - Masters of Misery - Black Sabbath: The Earache Tribute
1/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Untitled (ten)
17/11/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - Earache Unplugged 2
14/7/1997	A Wasylyk	3	Various - The Kanada Compilation
14/7/1997	Z Tsarfin	7	Various - Awakenings: Females in Extreme Music
14/7/1997	A Bromley	9	Various - A Black Mark Tribute
7/6/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Ozz-Fest: Live
13/5/1997	P Azevedo	8	Various - Out of the Dark Live Compilation
13/5/1997	S Hoeltzel	9	Various - World Domination II
5/2/1997	A Bromley	5	Various - Frozen Dawn III
5/2/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Absolute Supper
2/1/1997	A Wasylyk	9	Various - Beneath the Icy Floe: A Projekt Sampler V.4
12/8/1996	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Black Mark Attack
12/8/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - ...And Even Wolves Hid Their Teeth
17/7/1996	A Bromley	9	Various - Beauty In Darkness
9/6/1996	S Hoeltzel	7	Various - Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous
18/4/1996	N Bassett	7	Various - In Memory of Celtic Frost
14/3/1996	A Bromley	7	Various - Identity II
14/3/1996	N Bassett	8	Various - With Us Or Against Us
17/1/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - Four Ways To Misery