CHRISTIAN DEATH OFFICIAL

instruments

"The founding fathers of American goth rock, CHRISTIAN DEATH took a relentlessly confrontational stand against organized religion and conventional morality, with an appetite for provocation that made Marilyn Manson look like Stryper. Regardless of who was leading or performing in the group, CHRISTIAN DEATH set themselves up to shock, both in their cover art and their lyrics, which wallowed in blasphemy, morbidity, drug use, and sexual perversity. Their self-consciously controversial tactics set them apart from the British goth scene, having more to do with L.A. punk and heavy metal, and thus the band dubbed its sound "death rock". However, their sensibility was ultimately similar enough that the "goth" designation stuck in the end. CHRISTIAN DEATH's music also relied on slow, doomy, effects-laden guitar riffs and ambient horror-soundtrack synths, and their theatrical performances were strongly influenced by British glam rockers like David Bowie and Roxy Music, as well as industrial provocateurs Throbbing Gristle. The latter was especially true of the band's first incarnation, led by vocalist and founder Rozz Williams. When Williams left in 1985, guitarist Valor Kand took over leadership and sent the group in a more intellectual, political, and metal-oriented direction. A subsequent dispute over ownership of the CHRISTIAN DEATH name led many of their fans to take sides. CHRISTIAN DEATH has had an enormous influence on the American goth scene, shaping the sensibility of countless goth, metal, and even industrial acts that followed. Sadly, the Kand-Williams dispute ended in tragedy in 1998, when a heroin-addicted Williams took his own life." ~ Steve Hue - ROLLING STONE

Despite a revolving door of membership, CHRISTIAN DEATH has since relentlessly toured the world and released dozens of official and unofficial albums including some with alternate versions, covers and packaging for many different countries and languages. In 2019, Season of Mist Records reissued limited vinyl LP editions of the classic albums, Ashes, Catastrophe Ballet, The Scriptures and Atrocities as well as a purple vinyl edition of the 2015 release, The Root Of All Evilution. Currently CHRISTIAN DEATH is working on the follow-up to The Root Of All Evilution; the tentatively-titled, Evil Becomes Rule