Band:	Christian Death
Album:	The Iron Mask
Style:	Death rock, Gothic rock
Release date:	1992
A review by:	KwonVerge

01. Spiritual Cramp
02. Sleepwalk
03. Skeleton Kiss
04. Figurative Theatre
05. Desperate Hell
06. Death Wish
07. Luxury Of Tears
08. Cervix Couch
09. Skeleton Kiss [Death mix version]
10. Down In The Park [live]

When Rozz Williams left Christian Death after "Ashes" back in 1985 he agreed to let the rest of the band use the name of Christian Death until the end of the European "Ashes" tour and then change it to Sin and Sacrifice. That never actually happened. After this, the relation between Rozz Williams and Valor Kand changed and they became enemies, with Rozz Williams following his very own path forming many projects. Valor Kand continued Christian Death, keeping the name and all its glory, at times with great albums just like "Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ" and "Atrocities", whilst at others raping it with meaningless releases.

1992: The "iron mask" that Rozz Williams had been forced, metaphorically, to wear for years had finally fallen. Rozz Williams, the founding spirit of Christian Death and death rock, decides to reform Christian Death along with his wife Eva O, and signs a contract with the cult underground label Cleopatra Records.

The release of "The Iron Mask" is the comeback of Christian Death with Rozz Williams and has no new compositions except for the wonderful "Skeleton Kiss" and a fabulous live cover version on Gary Numan's "Down in the Park" (recorded live on the 30th of December, 1989). It consists of new versions of Christian Death classics just like "Spiritual Cramp," "Figurative Theatre," "Desperate Hell," "Death Wish," "Luxury of Tears," "Sleep Walk" and "Cervix Couch" performed in a wonderful way and sounding heavier. As you can see, the compositions come from the period of Christian Death when Valor was not yet a member of the band (except for the wonderful "Sleep Walk" and "Cervix Couch"), showing not only the rebirth of Rozz Williams' Christian Death but also consisting of a really good compilation of beloved Christian Death early period classics mainly coming from "Deathwish" and the legendary debut album "Only Theatre of Pain".

The cover of "The Iron Mask" is the renowned picture of Rozz Williams holding the withering flowers (does it remind you of Johan Edlund on the cover of "A Deeper Kind of Slumber"??) with his hair covering the half of his face.

A must for all the Rozz Williams fans all over the world!

"I could die a 1000 times but I will always be here?"