Wishfire Review
Released on August 6th 2002 (September 9th in Europe) Wishfire is the Cruxshadows latest, and possibly
best, musical offering.
It begins with the short spoken word track Before the Fire, the first of several songs on the album to
utilise the computer generated machine-like voice, which have become so popular recently in the
synth-pop/darkwave styles. Generally associated with Apoptygma Berserk and ComputerGirl, it gives the
album the feel of being much more electronics dependant than previous albums- something Rogue has
denied in recent interviews. Before the Fire has a similar atmosphere to the album Telemetry of a Fallen
Angel but shows definite signs of a more mature and developed personality.
Return (Coming Home) shows signs of a return towards the ancient mythology that inspired such earlier
songs as Eurydice (Don’t Follow) and Aten-Ra. The emotional but detached lead vocals that characterise
this song lend it a unique other-worldly quality despite the pounding beat.
This is followed by Binary which shares the mythological themes of the rest of the album but without
specific reference to any particular tale. The backing beat and catchy chorus suggest a turning towards a
more dance floor friendly sound, a move that is likely to increase their popularity amongst the cyber/goth
community as more DJs become willing to play their tracks.
The Seraphs is a return to the themes of Telemetry of a Fallen Angel but taken as a view of (Christian)
hell from the perspective of Satan. There is about as much rage and emotion in the vocals of this
track as rogue is able achieve whilst maintaining his detachment and the synth-pop status of the music.
(this is a song I’d love to hear Cradle of Filth cover).
A political element enters the album with the song Spectators, an attack on laisez faire policies and those
who aren’t willing "to make a run at something real". Once again filled with catchy lyrics this track is
distinctly melancholic.
Tears is of course the extremely successful single that debuted at number 5 in the DAC charts. The
pounding beat and computer sampling make this song sound more like Apoptygma Berserk (who of
course did a remix) than Cruxshadows.
Go Away marks a return to an older Cruxshadows style, reminiscent of Insomnia and Sympathy (For
Tomorrow). A tale of fading love it makes full use of Rachel’s haunting violins and Rogues ability to touch
your very soul with his voice.
The 4th Phase is much slower and more relaxed than most tracks, but whilst it contains some very catchy
lyrics it is also very forgettable, possibly because it is so slow and undramatic compared with the other
tracks.
Earthfall is the closest Wishfire gets to an instrumental track. despite its mechanical sound effects, sampling and a complex beat Earthfall is strangely forgettable- a song to enjoy at the time- but i doubt you’ll remember it long.
Orphean Wing is a song that has plagued me since i first got the album, the bizarre but catchy lyrics have
a tendency to get stuck in your head- on some occasions for a great deal of time. I haven’t decided if this is
a failing or a virtue. I suspect that if this song ever escapes into the mainstream charts it’ll be the new
Everything I Do (I Do For You)- by Bryan Adams.
Perhaps the most 'perki' track on the album Carnival has strong flavours of Miss Fortune Returns, an
instrumental from Telemetry of a Fallen Angel. Here Rogue takes advantage of new guitarist Stacey’s
vocal abilities to create a happy little duet.
Resist/R is probably the best song on Wishfire. An apparent condemnation of the recriminations by the American government following the events of 9/11, the song is also an attack on all racial and religious hatred- highlighted by the use of a sample of Martin Luther Kings- "I have Dream" speech. This song has also hit a chord amongst the goth community, some of whom feel that its themes of discrimination refer as much to them as to different races- this is especially true following the increasing "anti-goth" attitude in America.
Roman is another short spoken track, this one being dedicated to the memory of Rogues dog Roman- to whom the album is also dedicated. This probably qualifies as the most moving track on the whole album.
The final song of the album whilst being good doesn’t really distinguish itself enough to stand out amongst the excellent songs that pervade this album. Spiral (Don’t Fall) is just too average and its refrain of "and here we go, around and around" is just too reminiscent of cheesy goth dance floor staple You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive- a song guaranteed to produce a shudder in even the most hardened 80's fan.
All in all Wishfire is an excellent and memorable album which shows distinct improvement on previous albums, the sound is much more mature and polished if more dance floor orientated. The Cruxshadows popularity and renown have grown in recent years and will no doubt grow much faster with the addition of this album to their back catalogue it would seem that world domination isn’t far away now.
The question is- how are they going to beat this?
