Whether or not Andrew Eldritch, the singer and songwriter for U.K. band The Sisters of Mercy, thinks his band makes Goth Rock or not is irrelevant as their 1987 album release Floodland is possibly one of the best examples of the genre to be found. From the album cover, with its fullmoon-over-water photo and superimposed headshots of a sunglass clad Eldritch and Elvira clone Patricia Morrison (bass player), to the last refrains of bonus track "Colours" the listener is imbued with an overwhelming sense of darkness.
With Eldritch's drum machine, Doktor Avalanche, kicking out solid beats Floodland also has plenty of grinding bass guitar, eerie synthesizer and sparse guitar layered throughout. The first and second singles released off the album, "Dominion/Mother Russia" and "This Corrosion", were both produced by Jim Steinman (creator of Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell) whose considerable experience, talent and "pop" sensibilities, coupled with backing vocals provided by th New York Choral Society and Eldritch's own Bowie-esque vocal style, created two Goth Rock masterpieces that went on to chart at #13 and #7 respectively in the United Kingdom. Other highlights on Floodland include the almost-pop "Lucretia My Reflection" and the beautiful piano ballad "1959" while the rest of the album maintains the moody and melencholy atmosphere.
With the electronic drums, grating bass lines and discordant repetitive keyboards it is possible to hear early Industrial styling in some of the songs but overall, even 23 years later, the only genre that The Sisters of Mercy Floodland be contained within is Goth Rock. However, non-Goths should not be worried that this album won't appeal to them as the theatricality of the songs and Steinman's production make it accessible to the ordinary listener too.
Eldritch, A. The Sisters of Mercy. Floodland. CD. WEA Records, 2292-42246-2, 1987
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