Search - Christian Death :: Death Club: Best of Rozz Williams 1981-1993

R.I.P. Rozz Williams

scott c | Seattle | 05/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, the CD. Yes, it's a "best of " of sorts and not a bad one at that. There are some tracks that are rare and hard to find which gives it some credibility. I would suggest this more for the collector than the first time fan. Only Theatre Of Pain is THE album. It stands not only as the best Christian Death album but one of the best albums of all time. If you don't know Christian Death, and you want to, start there.



The DVD. The fact that you get a DVD with the CD for about $17 is a great deal. The interview with Rikk is cool, the two or three songs they did on some public access station actually sounds really good while the video quality, as can be expected, is poor but can be overlooked. The 1990 reunion show in Phoenix is, well, ok. It's great to see the band playing all of Theatre Of Pain and a couple extra tracks as well. However, the club is really small, the sound is so-so and the fact is, it's not 1982 anymore. Rozz's voice has changed, drugs have taken hold and it makes a huge difference. Rozz and Eva O look like they're just going through the motions to get paid and score dope. It's almost sad in a way because the edge they had is gone, the sense of rebellion is over and they're reuniting solely because they know people will show up to hear the early material; their best. But that's far better than dropping out and into mainstream society.



It was hard watching it because I kept thinking that in 8 years, he'd be dead. And the years in between were mired in addiction, alcoholism and increasing despair. At one time Rozz was an artist who dabbled in drugs. Then, he became an addict who dabbled in art. While a lot of his material was sub-par, he did leave behind a legacy. Christian Death was death rock. The first and the best. It didn't last and it never could. But the impact of his early work is eternal.











"

Join The Club

Bryce Ignacio | Las Vegas, NV | 12/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Death Club" is essentially to Christian Death/Rozz fans what "Crackle" is to Bauhaus devotees---a sampler of the band's best years with Rozz as frontman, plus some extra little goodies to make this album worth buying to anyone who already owns all of the albums highlighted here.



The only album cuts NOT included are those from "The Iron Mask"(understandably, as it's only re-recordings of most of these songs anyways), "The Rage Of Angels" and Christian Death's various live releases, which weren't particularly good anyways. Included though are the semi-hard to find "Invocations" studio cuts,which include "Haloes", "This Mirage" and the rarer "Spectre(Love Is Dead)" as well as plenty of DVD extras including video clips from a live show, their appearance on "Media Blitz" and interviews with both Rozz and Rikk Agnew from the band's early days.



For the uninitiated, buy this album and think of it as Christian Death footnotes. Then go buy the albums you can find still. For established Rozz fans the rare inclusions and DVD extras make this a must have to complete the Christian Death history and should be accompanied with a purchse of the new Shadow Project DVD "...And Then There Was Death"."

THE CHILD DEVIANT

CRAZOTOLOGY | Joplin, MO. (USA) | 12/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If your new to Christian Death, than this is an excellent place to start. This album takes the listener through the various incarnations of Rozz Williams (originator/vocalist/ and creator of the band), and exposes him in an exclusive interview that shows just how misundersood, intelligent, and gay he truly was. It's tragic that Rozz killed himself, nevertheless, his brand of Christian Death enthralls the deathrock/Goth/ and Punk scene to this verry day!!! Anybody who listen's to the song 'Romeo's Distress' will become an instant fn...as long as they are inclined to listen to this type of music. Obviousley, CHRISTIAN DEATH is not intended for fan's of Britney Spears."