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When my dear friend Misery first told me of She Wants Revenge I must admit I was a bit apprehensive. I didn’t want my comeback review with the GRIM staff to be about some band in cheap mascara with an “I hate daddy” complex. Most new bands in the gothic genre never really seem to have the dark ambience that some of the late great classics do. Bands like The Sisters of Mercy, The Cure, and Depeche Mode have been around since the early to mid eighties, and their music has aged like that of a fine blood red wine. She Wants Revenge is simply prolific. They have managed to combine old school goth with modern synth sounds to create a strong lyrical and melodic masterpiece. But to experience the true sound, one must first know the talents and backgrounds of the maestro’s of misery. She Wants Revenge is comprised of front man Justin Warfield (vocals & guitars) and Adam Bravin (bass, keyboards & programming). Warfield first made is way into the music industry on the West coast by releasing his debut album, My Field Trip to Planet 9 in ‘93. While the album was a flop, he was recognized by some as a new and upcoming talent in the rap world. In ’95 he released a second album titled The Justin Warfield Supernaut, a quirky combination of classic rock with pop-like undertones. While this revealed his range of musical talents, this confused his fans. Bravin, aka DJ Adam 12 has also seen his fair share of genre changes. Raised on top40 and hip-hop he finally found his calling as a House DJ, specializing in techno and hard house styles. Based on past genres, it’s a quandary on how these DJ’s developed into a moody electro-goth group. With the help of some deep rooted connections and air time from Sirius Satellite Radio, the duo caught the ear of Geffen, who signed them at the start of ’06. Since then She Wants Revenge has been taking the airwaves by storm all across the country. I was in a bit of dismay when I started my car in the morning to hear Tear You Apart blasting across the sound system, especially after leaving the self-titled album in my hotel that morning. Kudos goes out to the Alternative 96.5 in
While listening to the album one can sense the torment and passion behind the music. Each song has a unique tale to tell, a bit of desolation and misfortune for all types of listeners. Obvious influences on this album include Joy Divison, Depeche Mode, and maybe even a smidge of The Sisters of Mercy. But again, the jaw dropper for me is the dynamic history of this distressed duo. I never would have thought that an album like this would come from a duo of West Coast DJ’s. Are you curious to the recipe that makes this album work? Take your typical ingredients of anger, lust, sorrow, and a love lost – whip it up with some BDSM and add a shake or two of sacrilege. Stick it in the oven, draw the shades, close your eyes and let the music take you... Take care GRIM readers, it feels good to be back. -- Angst
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