This was the first chance the mainstream would have had to hear the mighty music of Leeds' Sisters of Mercy. Although formed in 1980, the band had only released a long succession of singles and EPs before this debut album.
Although 'Floodland' is a stronger and more epic album, this is the album that really gave impetus to the 'Goth' movement and has the classic band line-up. The key is here that they sound like a great band playing together, whereas on 'Floodland', Eldritch created and composed practically alone.
Gary Marx, Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams made up the band and all members were involved in musical composition, whilst Eldritch was the sole lyricist and vocalist.
I was lucky enough to score tickets to see Eldritch and his current line-up in May at the Astoria, and their live shows stay true to the original ethos; the band are almost permanently shrouded in dry ice, Eldritch can hardly be heard over the pounding Doktor Avalanche and buzz-saw guitars, and the whole group wear shades, but Eldritch is now a slap-head with an irrepressible dress sense and command of his audience.

1) 'Black Planet'

2) 'Walk away'

3) 'No time to cry'

4) 'A rock and a hard place'

Fell in love with this when i first heard it, but it was on a bootleg live album. This song is just INVINCIBLE when heard live, as the atmosphere is better, and best of all the tempo is twice as fast. This is my favourite Sisters track, and quite frankly is a Gothic masterpiece.
This version suffers from playing at a slow tempo. It is an epic multi-layered ode to Marian, who alone can save Eldritch from doom. The third verse bizarrely is sung in German, for what reason i don't know, although there may be a connection to the Sisters' industrial roots. Another point to note is the references to water and the ocean, a theme which Eldritch would develop on with 'Flood I and II' from 'Floodland'. Try and get access to a live version of this, although it will be rare.

Rather than tailing off, the album ends with this absolute masterpiece of a gothic power ballad. A marvellous buzzing industrial melody is lifted brilliantly towards the bridge and chorus, and the lyricism is simply beautiful as Eldritch croons wistfully about a desolate and cruel world, and letting a stranger in to his heart to ease his suffering, ending with madness and desperation in his tormented vocals. A supreme finale.

The artwork is dark and minimal, with red etchings as seen before on the 'Reptile House EP', and a medallion with a slice missing that looks strangely like the medallion of the sun last seen in the 80s cartoon 'The mysterious cities of gold'! The typeface is as all other Sister's releases, which gives it a unique feel and image. Unfortunately no lyrics are included, and just one picture shows how hard it is to see the group on stage!