Collide- Like the Hunted

There's really no two ways about it; most concert videos are of limited interest outside of the band's most devoted followers. That said, this DVD documentary of Collide's performance last year at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles is a truly exceptional example of the genre, filmed and presented with a professionalism that is doubly astounding considering the fact that the band did the entire thing with no label support. The sound quality is perfect, the song selection encompasses the band's entire career, and the live versions are different enough from their recorded versions to be intriguing to fans while not so different as to be unrecognizable to more casual viewers; a more upbeat version of "Slither Thing" along with a metal-infused version of "Falling Up" are particularly noteworthy. Of even more interest are the numerous extras that accompany this DVD. There are several music videos, including a gorgeous video for "Euphoria" that alternates between shots of the band in chic modern cyberpunk outfits and shots of lead singer kARIN looking classically gothic in a forest. A cover of "Son Of A Preacher Man" is also quite good, though its central theme of cowboys brawling with people in fuzzy animal suits is odd, to say the least. In addition to the music videos, there's a documentary segment featuring interview snippets and backstage footage, a few extra live cuts from other performances during the same tour, and in-studio acoustic versions of "Modify" and "Deep." All in all, there's more than enough to keep any Collide fan occupied for several hours, and even those unfamiliar with the band's work ought to enjoy the music videos in the bonus section. Highly recommended to modern goths of all stripes, this is a solid and well-executed production that surpasses many of the DVDs released by more mainstream acts.

Visit Collide at www.collide.net for more information about this film.