THE 69 EYES - Paris Kills (The Special Edition) Nuclear Blast

English:CD-review
  Van Muylem    14 mei 2015

A few weeks ago I reviewed the best of THE 69 EYES and loved it so much that I asked if I could review two of their albums who got reissued right after the best of. Paris Kills (Special Edition) is the first out of 2 and fulfills my expectations.


It’s just a bit strange to realize that a lot of tracks also figure on the best off (despite a career of 25 years). Another thing is that this special edition only has 2 extras and in this case they are remixes. So don’t expect rare tracks or special live versions. It’s good if you have the LP version and now buy the digital or the CD version, but if you have the original digital or CD version, never mind this one …

Fans who recently discovered them or those who still have to discover them will be overwhelmed by the catchiness, sweetness and Goth’n Roll of these Finnish Vampires!

The albums starts with Crashing high, a track that reminds me a bit of our own Star Industry, a great Gothic rocker! The backings are sweet and catchy and bring in a typical scream and raise your arms in the air moment. At the end you’ll get a remix, but don’t expect a reggae version or something spectacular. It’s a great track and I can imagine that there is not much to change about it. Feel the power, the energy and go with the story! Maybe time to check the Finnair Blog and read why the singer love this company …

Dance D’amour contains some French (with an accent), a romantic one: dance until the serious moonlight (right: David Bowie and his serious moonlight tour from 1983). We are slowly dancing towards our beloved one. At some part it reminds me of Iggy Pop in his soft era (‘Blah Blah Blah’). The synths play an important role in this one, just as the low voice. Betty Blue is a sweet romantic goth ‘n roll track! The backings give it a gospel touch and something very catchy. I would have changed the name of the track into I’m going to run away with you.

Grey is the first track that isn’t part of the best off and starts with vocals coming out of heaven, until heavy guitars tear them away. It’s a dark but soft track with some bluesy feelings. I get some Type O Negative vibe, for sure on the vocals. Radical sounds like a bitter ballad about a vampire who doesn’t want to live anymore, reaching out and wanting to die. A nice idea and very cynical and dark one! One of those tracks who could have figured on the best off is for sure the great Don’t turn your back on Fear! The symphonically and dramatically feel is so real! I must say I used the title (a great punchline) a few times to encourage some people, so this one is for sure a great milestone for this album! The catchiness made me sing along and is still haunting my head! This is pure heaven for gothic lovers!

Stigmata was missing on the best off and also gets a Gothic remix. The bass gets an important role (like the one in A Forest from The Cure). I hear more electronics and somehow start to think about Cat People (putting out fire with Gasoline from David Bowie). The Latin phrases are nice, just as the backings! I love the lifting feel (and the raging drums) towards the end. Forever More is a catchy but slow one with now and then an outburst of energy. Still waters run deep is a jewel, very catchy and haunting. One of my favorites. I can find myself in the lyrics. Dawn’s Highway is a sticky one with some cool blues elements. You can call it a bittersweet energetic outburst with fangs. More softness comes with You’re lost little girl, a bluesy ballad. The end gets a bit more up-tempo with razor sharp guitars and a more industrial orientated sound (genre Nine Inch Nails).

As said in the beginning after this you get the 2 remixes.

Well, as I have been listening to this one for weeks I can state that I will for sure listen longer and will reach out for more! I hope they get more fans hooked on their great sound and deliver us more special stuff in the near future!