DEATH OF THE WEST

This 1994 SOL INVICTUS release, originally intended as an EP, structurally resembles "The Killing Tide" of 3 years earlier, in that a significant amount of the album proper consists of reworked numbers. The differences here do not work in Tony Wakeford's favor as they did before, because of poor production, generally inferior versions and a lack of serendipitous continuity.

Allowing for the overly long but deliciously creepy "Sheath and Knife", after the next few alternate takes from "Lex Talionus", the apex is seized with the potent title cut conjuring "Against the Modern World"; the quirky almost poppy "Here am I"; the gracefully arranged "Our Lady of the Wild Flowers" ; and the NORTH SEA RADIO ORCHESTRA ringer "Petals from a Rose", though perhaps a common Krautrock ancestor is responsible.

Among the bonus cuts, "On and On" perpetuates the slightly more upbeat nature of a few of the numbers here, which is a few more than normally found on a SOL INVICTUS release. While "Death of the West" might be iconic from a titular standpoint as was the band's debut, it is similarly mixed in quality, but, like almost every SOL INVICTUS album I've heard to date, worth keeping alive or resurrecting as the mood strikes. Just under 3.5 stars.