Reptyle- Consequence

ARTIST: Reptyle
ALBUM: Consequence
LABEL: Equinoxe Records
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 10-28-07

German band Reptyle is classic gothic rock at its finest. Just to get this out of the way, if you're the type of fan who's constant complaint is that there are too many bands that sound like the Sisters of Mercy, this probably won't be your cup of tea. The similarities are everywhere; the reverberating drumbeats of "Black Snow," the brooding intensity of "Just Like You," and the driving guitars of "Where I Come From" all invite comparisons to the early work of Andrew Eldritch and friends. Then there's the baritone of lead vocalist Zulu; on "Under the Hammer" he's grim yet intimate, but on "Bought Me a Lie" and "One Touch," his voice gets so deep he's not even singing actual notes, unless they're distinguishable on some subsonic range outside of what mere human ears can perceive. There's a reason that so many Sisters of Mercy-inspired bands, Reptyle included, have done so well, though, and that's craftsmanship. Like Eldritch himself, this group has a real ear for solid, gloomy rockers, as evidenced by the adrenaline-packed "All Is Love" and the more epic "Honest Liar," and the dual guitars of Keule and Slash (not to be confused with the the identically-named guitarist of Guns 'n' Roses fame) add heaviness and impact to the moody "Great Opportunities" and dirge-like "Tower of Bridges." There may be more than a touch of imitation here, but Reptyle are draw their influence from one of the scene's most influential bands, and they do it with an overabundance of style and class.

Hear extracts from Reptyle's latest album at www.reptyle.de.