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Artist: RICHARD CHRIST
Album: Richard Christ
Year: 2009
Some people might remember this band from their 'UltraViolent Messiah' release (reviewed somewhere else on this page too) - for the others here's a little introduction. Richard Christ is a three-piece formed in 2006, when the frontman (Richard Christ - obviously) decided to form his own musical project after years of touring with a Marilyn Manson tribute band all over the world. This resulted in a project named after him, attempting to mix rock and metal with industrial and glam. The preveriously mentioned 'UltraViolent Messiah' EP was released in 2006, and opened doors for this band to ink a deal with the Italian label Killerpool Records. This collaboration results in the release of their self-titled debut full-lenght.
The release opens with the track called 'Eyes'. It's a gentle midtempo electro rock track, including influences from glam, wave and metal. It contains recogniseable vocal lines, essential keylines and powerful riffing and programming. 'An American Christ' is a happy sounding and even danceable electro rock song, mixing various old school touches with modern approaches on the keylines and the sampling. The heavy riffing is very wellplaced, and the outgoing chorus fits the song surprisingly good. 'Angel' consists of diverse guitarwork, wellplaced keylines and dreamy vocal parts, to outburst into a nearly sing-a-long kinda chorus. 'Richard n' Roll' is one of the more heavy tracks on the release, referring to the riffing and the wicked experimental programming. The gentle vocal lines give the track an accessable attitude and a recogniseable touch, and mixing with the wellplaced keylines even small picks of wave. 'Fashion God' opens with heavy tunes, to evolve into an electronic driven and danceable mix of EBM and modern metal. It's one of the more catchy tracks of the release, with an outgoing chorus and it's exciting couplets. 'Call Me' contains the best riff of the album, thrown in to bounce around gentle electronic parts and recogniseable vocal lines and drumloops. 'Space Glamour' follows. It's driven on a danceable beat, while adding recogniseable keylines and gentle vocal and guitar works. 'Depression' is the longest track on the release. It's a sensitive track, including wave influenced musical works, welladded keylines and wellfitting vocal parts. The subtile riffing is wellplaced, giving the song a certain power boost during the chorusses. 'Revolution Drugs' is a heavy uprising electro metal track, including powerful riffing and drumming and haunting keylines. The parts accompanied by vocal lines are of a more softer kind, giving the song a less chaotic attitude. 'No Way For You' follows. It's a good mix of old school gothic rock and modern future pop, all coming together with a wicked and experimental attitude. 'Neodux' consist of bashing drums, future pop influenced keylines and recogniseable riffing and vocal lines. It's danceable though powerful, and gets even a little heavy here and there. The release ends with 'Grey Day' - a sensitive outro with a little folkish attitude and disturbing sampling.
Richard Christ delivers with their self-titled debut a nice alternative for fans of bands like Marilyn Manson and the Murderdolls. Right there lays the danger as well - when it comes to vocal use frontman Richard shows many similarities to his big example. Musically the band constructs decent songs, but doesn't manage to fully convince every time. Overall I think it results in a welldeserved score from my side, with a sidenote that Marilyn Manson groupies will probably rate this much higher. I'll surely be playing this record every now and then in the future.
Vote: 75 / 100
Review by: Gerardo
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1. Eyes
2. An American Christ
3. Angel
4. Richard n' Roll
5. Fashion God
6. Call Me
7. Space Glamour
8. Depression
9. Revolution Drugs
10. No Way For You
11. Neodux
12. Grey Day
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