Search - Inkubus Sukkubus :: Wytches & Vampyres: Best of

Wytches & Vampyres, oh my!

Clarissa | Ontario, California | 07/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know much about Inkubus Sukkubus. In fact I'd never even heard anything by this group before chancing a buy of 'Wytches & Vampyres'. In the past I was only familiar with their name but have always been curious to hear what their music sounds like, so naturally when Cleopatra Records released an affordable 'Best Of' compilation featuring the highlights from their previous works, I just had to get this!



Although I agree with another reviewer who complained about the poor quality of production here, which is weak like a lot of older 80s discs are where you have to crank up the volume just to retain even a fracture of the sound being projected, the songs all but make up for that. Candia has a killer voice that'll put you under a deepened spell while the drums hypnotize and the guitars send you soaring!



If you're like me it's unfortunate your late in discovering this hidden gem but now is a good enough time then ever to definitely check out this Pagan Goth band (especially if you enjoy Faith and the Muse and Switchblade Symphony) since there's really not a whole lot of respectable Goth music being made anymore, and this is hands-down some of the best I've had the dark pleasure of hearing; most notable tracks being "Heartbeat of the Earth", "I Am The One", "Vampyre Erotica", and my personal favorite, "Heart of Lilith"."

Blessed be! Inkubus in the U.S. at last!

Eric Petersen | USA | 04/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The great British pagan hard rock band Inkubus Sukkubus has been around for about 10 years, but none of their albums were released in the U.S. - until now! This best-of compilation is a great way to introduce yourself to this amazing band.



Fronted by lead vocalist Candia Ridley - a vocalist with amazing range who actually SINGS instead of screaming, screeching, or growling - and backed by the blistering riffs of guitarist Tony McKormack, Inkubus Sukkubus' music is steeped deep in Wiccan / pagan spirituality and goth imagery.



The opening track, Heartbeat Of The Earth, is the heart of paganism - our close, spiritual bond to nature - our mother earth. Beltaine is a beautiful ode to the May 1st holiday, which celebrates the springtime rebirth of the maiden mother Goddess and Her union with the young father Horned God of nature, who, by the way, is NOT Satan. Wytches is a rousing anthem in tribute to the esbat - the full moon celebration ritual dedicated to the Goddess - and the song ends with Candia and the band chanting some of the Goddess's many names - Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna.



Tracks like Vampyre Erotica and Take My Hunger show off the goth side of the band. Personally, I like the pagan songs more than the goth ones, but some of the goth tracks are very good.



I wish this had been a 2-disc set, because there are many great IS songs that didn't make the cut, but deserve to be in a best-of compliation. Several I can think of off the bat are Pagan Born, Queen Of The May, Burning Times, and the heart-wrenching anti-war song Atrocity, which is sung, quite well, by Tony McKormack.



Inkubus Sukkubus is huge in Europe and has a solid following of devoted American fans. Maybe now they will release all of the band's albums here. They're better than 95% of what passes for hard rock here. Until the rest of their albums are available, treat yourself to this best-of disc.



- Eric Petersen"

Hi there

Paula | California, USA | 06/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a really unique band. They use what sounds like a violin quite a bit, and also the sounds of a pipe organ. Combined with the electric guitar and drums, as well as the female singer's beautiful voice and well-written lyrics, the effect is quite haunting. The production isn't as good as it could be (you can hear tape hiss, and the sound is a little compressed), but the music is fantastic."