A CD review of PARALYSED AGE's album INTO THE ICE.

PARALYSED AGE - Into the Ice
http://www.paralysedage.de/ (official site German/English)
http://www.ferret.com/discs/ (Dancing Ferret Discs - official site)

Into the Ice is the sixth official release in an expansive career from the
yummy, but relatively reclusive German band PARALYSED AGE.
I do not exaggerate when I suggest that PARALYSED AGE may perhaps be one
of the top 5 Gothic/Vampiric/Darkwave bands in the world today. Each
recording on Into the Ice is a masterpiece compositionally, while also
achieving dance suitability admirally. This is one of those records that
you can pop in and dig after just a few mere listens.

Give credit to Dancing Ferret Discs label owner Patrick Rodgers for
discovering the recordings of PARALYSED AGE while on a 2001 Dancing
Ferret Discs promotional tour in Europe. Available in Europe for years,
their music was never formally exposed to North America. Rodgers has
assembled a formidable Dancing Ferret Discs lineup that reads like a who's
who of the gothic subcultural undeground, featuring franchise favorite The
Cruxshadows as well as Neuroticfish, Seraphim Shock, The Last Dance, The
Dreamside, and Nosferatu.

Ice and the solid inability to change one's emotions, even in the face of
brutal self-honesty forms the el context of Into the Ice. The lyrics of
"Into the Ice", the title track, seem to refer to an internal struggle
with emotional confusion, depression and anxiety (as characterized by all
encompassing ice) Other favorites include "My Sweetest Return" (which
features the violin work of fellow Dancing Ferret Discs labelmate Rachel
McDonnell of The Cruxshadows), "Your Coldest Smile", "Darkened Skies",
"Dawn of Life" as well as the elegant cover of "Self Control" once made a
hit by eighties legend Laura Branigan.

PARALYSED AGE released their first album "Chirstened Child, a rare 45
minute cassette in 1991. After several incarnations with different
members, the band finally was scaled back to the husband and wife team of
Michael and Andrea. Very little is known about Paralysed Age, members do
not reveal their last names, preffering instead to be noted by their
actual first names. The albums stand on their own, with very little
promotion.

In prior interviews the duo admit freely that they are very large fans of
80's music, and that their music is inspired greatly by vampires and
particularly the writings of Edgar Allen Poe and Bram Stoker. This
influence is clear in tracks such as "Berenice". Each song forms a acoustical painting of tasteful
ambiguity.

Into the Ice is a must-have album for the discriminating goth fan.

by Wa