Do you know every time I come across this particular genre of music, gothic/doom metal, a question always flares up; when did goth, which to me has always been linked with Bauhaus, Alien Sex Fiend, Sisters Of Mercy and Siouxsie Sioux at times, suddenly become linked with doom metal?

Both are poles apart but when the right elements of each are put together you end up with not just a hell of a sound, but a classic performance to boot - so will this double live album from Theatre of Tragedy self confessed gothic metallers meet the grade? Well, to me this genre stands or falls, as do the bands, on the strength of the vocals and in Nell Sigland and Raymond Istvàn Rohonyi Theatre Of Tragedy have a fantastic counter-balance of light and shade, the rest of the band give the power and the platform for them to shine.

I have to be honest though, I think you lose quite a bit of the oomph that Theatre of Tragedy possess when you listen to the music on CD rather than witness the performance and the interaction on stage, and listening to the live offering here I felt my attention slipping. The crowd whether dubbed on or not were right up for it, the band were right up for it, but ultimately it didn't do it for me. Which takes me back to who and where did this link up of goth and doom come from. Theatre Of Tragedy are Norwegian, making Norway as good a starting point as any for some trawling through musical history and heritage to answer my initial question.-  

As for the album, well if you're a fan of Nightwish, Within Temptation, or Evanescence, this is well worth a listen, me however - I'll let you know......

www.myspace.com/pagesoftragedy