GOTHTRONIC webzine

Ordeal by Fire - Untold Passions

gothic (gothic rock / (dark)wave / postpunk / batcave)

grade: 7
by: TekNoir

One of the labels that is present most prominently in this period of time where we are experiencing a revival of deathrock, batcave and gothrock, old school goth rock styles, is the German label Strobelight Reords. Ordeal by Fire is a Italian gothrock band that has signed on this label and knows how to grab some attention of the audience. They play old school gothrock with influences by The Fields of the Nephilim and with resemblances with Love Like Blood, because they too lean towards metal sometimes. However, some guitar riffs remind of The Cure. Ordeal by Fire keeps it towards the rock side of gothrock, they don’t use a synthesizer for instance. The tracks are not too accessible, which might been done on purpose to keep a retro feel as difficult music and experiment do not really get much attention these days. The best tracks are ‘Dirty Floor’, ‘Hanging On’, Re-Creation’, Life’s Uncertainty’ and ‘Tides’. Stilistically this band doesn’t really appeal to me, but it’s good music.