Only Theatre of Pain

Only Theatre of Pain

Track Listings

1. Cavity - First Communion

2. Figurative Theatre

3. Burnt Offerings

4. Mysterium Iniquitatis

5. Dream for Mother

6. Stairs - Uncertain Journey

7. Spiritual Cramp

8. Romeo's Distress

9. Resurrection - Sixth Communion

10. Prayer

11. Deathwish

12. Romeo's Distress

13. Dogs

14. Desperate Hell

15. Spiritual Cramp

16. Cavity

Tracks:

Cavity-First Communion
Figurative Theatre
Burnt Offerings
Mysterium Iniquitatis
Dream For Mother
Stairs-Uncertain Journey
Spiritual Cramp
Romeo's Distress
Resurrection-Sixth Communion
Prayer
Deathwish
Romeo's Distress
Dogs
Desperate Hell
Spiritual Cramp
Cavity

Album Description

Collaboration between singer/poet Rozz Williams & Rikk Agnew. 16 tracks. 1982.

Customer Reviews:

Classic!.......2007-06-27

All of these songs are classics, why even argue about it? This band has been imitated and venerated by so many others, Christian Death definitely started something here. The only thing is, I'm not so sure if the other copycats understand the complexity of Williams' music and ideas. His own wife said that in 1994 Rozz told her he "had accepted Jesus." And before he died "he called his mother and let her know that he accepted the Lord. In his last conversation with his roommate he said he was going to be with God." Rozz Williams certainly was much more multi-faceted than other musicians and fans even knew, which made for a lot of genuine torment in the music, and a type of anguished singing voice that, as I mentioned, is heavily imitated even today.

Dark Slab of Ghoulish Mysticism with Driving Riffs - A MUST HAVE FOR ANY COLLECTION.......2007-01-26

Back in the early 80s, when this slow, grinding,disturbing set of tunes was first issued, it was considered shocking. (Shocking in a real way, in a way that Alice Cooper and Kiss only played at--making Black Sabbath look like the Brady Bunch!). Replete with themes of necrophilia, satanism, and graverobbing--no nightmare is left unturned--this dark masterpiece has a sinister feel to it that defies all pop sensibility and leaves only the seedy underbelly of LA left in its ruin...Lyrically, it borders somewhere between evil and unintentionally funny....but nevermind, this is a good buy as it includes the original gothic/darkwave (then called death-rock) magna opus "Only Theatre of Pain" in its entirety, along with the later remix EP (now out of print) entitled "Death Wish." Take my word for it....if you are new to gothic rock or just completing your collection, THIS is the place to start. (Don't waste your time with later efforts--Valor all but ruined this band with his narcisistic insipid lyricism)--this is the real deal! (BTW, if you're feeling experimental, be sure and snag CD's hard to find "Catastrophe Ballet"--the monumental follow up LP to this dark little treasure--it's very different but equally satisfying)

Fool me once..........2006-07-10

Amazon keeps recommending this to me because I like 45 Grave.
But, after wasting money on another album by this band, "Scriptures", I know better. Cool name, cool logo, lame music. I won't be fooled twice.

Not Just For the Shy/Skinny DR kids!.......2006-06-28

When I bought this on vinyl in 1984, you didn't have all the sub-genres you have now. You also didn't have easy access to new music (e.g. the internet). If you saw a used record that looked even remotely punk, you bought it. Especially if you saw it was on Frontier, and had Rikk Agnew from the Adolescents! Hence my introduction to Christian Death. What started off as a "fluke" purchase became one of my favorite records. While I could never get into the whole "goth" thing, I've always been a fan of this album. Nice to see that it is now "new & improved" with (6) bonus trax. The original vinyl only had the 1st (10) songs. Of the (6) bonus trax, I will comment on (4) of 'em:

1) Deathwish - Great Song! I swear I've heard it before, but don't remember it being on the original LP. Anyone know where it came from (the liner notes contain no details on the bonus trax, which is why I only gave this release 4 stars).
2) Romeo's Distress/Spiritual Cramp - Alternate versions of 2 of the best songs from the original LP.
3) Dogs - One of their best! Originally on the Hell Comes To Your House compilation (which I believe has also been reissued on CD).

While I still have an occassional urge to hear Catastrophe Ballet, this is the only LP they did with Rikk Agnew, so all subsequent releases lose their "punk" edge.

The Best DeathRock CD EVER!!!.......2005-07-14

The Cd of Only Theater of pain was the first Cd ever that got me to go to the darker side of music. When i heard thsi Cd it was awsome. Very meaninful and dark lyrics that Rozz Williams had made for this album. The other very beautiful CD is Ashes. He is the best most original rocker that i have seen. A from this point i have not heard a CD that can pass Rozz's masterpiece of Only Theater of Pain.

Average customer rating:

Christian Death is music born
Great classic album....
At moments good, it loses interest quickly.
A Pure Gothic Classic
A Death-Rock/Goth Classic.

Only Theatre of Pain
Christian Death
Manufacturer: Epitaph / Ada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ
Closer

ASIN: B000001IMU
Release Date: 1997-02-11

Tracks:

Cavity-First Communion
Figurative Theatre
Burnt Offerings
Mysterium Iniquitatis
Dream For Mother
Stairs-Uncertain Journey
Spiritual Cramp
Romeo's Distress
Ressurection-Sixth Communion
Prayer
Deathwish
Romeo's Distress
Dogs
Desperate Hell
Spiritual Cramp
Cavity

Customer Reviews:

Christian Death is music born.......2006-01-04

This album has so much life in it that it will make you want more from this great band!!!! You will crave this album and find your self putting it on again and again. You will find that everyone who catches a slight hint of this sound will want it too!!!!
This break through record is still fresh. This album is harmonically pleasing and well regarded as a musical masterpiece of epic proportion.

Great classic album...........2005-11-22

This is one of the few albums that I own that I can listen to again and again without growing bored by it.The music is innovative and the lyrics intense.This is far better than his latter work which is haphazard at best. If you are interested in listening to some Rozz Williams get this album before you buy anything else that he did.This is what deathrock/goth is all about.

At moments good, it loses interest quickly........2005-10-03

When I bought this album, I took it home and only had a few moments to listen to the first three songs. I liked them enough so I ripped the album onto my computer playlist and left it at that.

I forgot about it from then on, only hearing various songs during random playing, which in general I either liked or didn't mind.

Recently I decided to listen to the album all the way through, and I was amazed by how poor it works out afterall. The lyrics are okay, sometimes becoming very interesting, but the music and style of singing quickly become repetitive. I found it very difficult not to tune it out after two or three songs, and whenever I tuned in I would start to get annoyed by the lead singer's voice. It's interesting at first, irritating in time, and abrasive by the end.

This album is not something I can really imagine handling all the way through for any good reason. It seems to work best broken up and randomized, at moments popping up onto the playlist and then going away for a while. If you have a rather large collection of music and an iPod or computer playlist handy, hey, knock yourself out. If you expect to listen to this thing all the way through, you're going to either be bored or irritated.

--PolarisDiB

A Pure Gothic Classic.......2005-06-14

This is a wonderful album. I remembering first listening to this album over nearly 20 years ago. Once Rozz departed I sort of lost interest in the band. However, when Rozz toured by himself and did all the classics from this first album, you can bet I was right there front and center. The place: Spanky's in Riverside California. Decades ago I was lucky enough to look at him eye to eye and gently place my hand behind his head as he sang songs from this album. A truly unique moment from a great goth icon. This music is edgy and still as powerful as it was then. See my iTunes review of this album for more info.

A Death-Rock/Goth Classic........2004-07-17

Rozz Williams,the singer for Christian Death was only 18 years old when this record was released. Rozz went on to release numerous other projects under various names. This album is a masterpiece from start to finish; haunting, lyrically rich, and dark. This 1982 release was "Goth" before the name became so overused. This is an album that will not disappoint the true Goth fan.

Music Info:

Music Info

music info

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