Band:	Notre Dame
Album:	Le Théâtre Du Vampire
Style:	Electro, Gothic metal
Release date:	October 31, 1999
Guest review by:	prozag

01. Le Théâtre Du Vampire
02. Bouffoon Bloody Bouffoon
03. Vlad The Impaler
04. I Bring Nosferatu You
05. A Sleighride Through Transylvanian Winterland
06. Dusk
07. Sabbat
08. Faust - The Ghostwriter
09. Black Birthday (Hip Hip Hooray) [feat. Pete Blakk]
10. Sisterhood
11. Spiderella's XXX
12. The Day The Virus Diminished Hallelujaville's Population [vinyl bonus]
13. From The Chronicles: The Rue Morgue Murders [vinyl bonus]

Oh yes... I'm going to review this lost piece of horror metal and I'm saying HORROR METAL, yes... this is real horror metal for you metal sub genres classification haters

I'll start by talking about Snowy Shaw, who built up this band through his experience in previous bands such as Mercyful Fate and King Diamond and his amazing pro-active attitude by always working out of the box, allowed him to create Notre Dame. And what a perfect name for this band; it is theatrically perfect for the suspense that is built up through the songs. The the band member names, yes, Mannekin De Sade and Jean-Pierre De Sade brings a even darker atmosphere when you think about it. And Vampirella... the cherry in the top of the cake that sums up what Notre Dame is all about.

I'm going to review this album like I'm reviewing a play, because it is only fair to review it like so.

The mixture of fast and occasional blast beats with Vampirella's sensual voice creates a perfect scenario, suspense similar to a horror movie, when a vampire is hiding behind the curtains to fulfill his blood urges on an innocent and curiously attractive woman. Other times, it's a demonstration of a master controlling others like a puppet show, while simple piano notes similar to a puppet show fit perfectly in the various scenarios. For those who really are searching for songs to scare someone, there are some in this album; what's scarier than children singing in a horror song?? The constant theatrical elements create the perfect combination of suspense, darkness, and lust. The singing duo of Shaw and Vampirella in some songs is very well achieved. By the end of the album everything sums up, I mean it was very deeply thought-out, every moment brings a new element; it's like we are watching a vampire theater. If a blind person wants to understand the attractiveness of vampire movies in a horror context they just have to hear this album, it's very well achieved.

Some things that I didn't like was the fact that Vampirella didn't sing as much as I expected and the album could be recorded with a better studio quality.
Sometimes it had moments that lacked some elements, bringing down the atmosphere that was building up and disappointing the listener like a slap in the face.

Summing up this album is a perfect demonstration of this small sub--genre of metal that is almost extinct. If you are the kind of listener that is emotional, has a wide imagination and wants to get into the song spirit and atmosphere of the artist I really advise this album to you.