By the latter half of the 00's, surely many people would think Christian Death were dead, or in a state of decay. The band remained silent. Valor endured ironic backlash while preparing his response. And what a response!

"American Inquisition", the band's comeback album after 7 years of recording hiatus, is not only a "very good record". It is a fucking masterpiece, definetely among Christian Death's best three albums, and, in my opinion, a serious candidate for the "most complete and mature Christian Death album ever" position!

The political elements, always obvious in Valor's work ever since "Atrocities" that deals with the twisted psyche of the European continent after the horrors of WW2, here obtain a dramatic, nearly epic overtone as the majestic music unfolds, from the opening grandiose "Water into wine" into the closing apocalyptic chaos of "XIII" that travels back to the second side of "Scriptures" and includes the band's early industrial/noise influences.

In between, each song attacks the unsuspected listener with conviction, agressiveness, and an outstanding quality that we have missed for the last 20 years. Valor maintains his voice in top-notch form, and his guitar playing is as fantastic as it has always been, while Maitri, in a surprisingly frenetic shape, delivers her bass and singing parts with a malevolent passion that outruns all female rock/metal singers of the contemporary scene.

The dark erotic , modernist elements of "To disappear", "Narcissus Metamorphosis of" and "Victim X" combine perfectly with the psychedelic, haunting greatness of "Dexter said no to methadone" and "Angels and drugs". And as if that all was not enough, the amazing songs "see you in hell" and "surviving Armageddon" bring forth the best heritage of "the wind kissed pictures" but refreshed and reborn in the superior production qualities and experiences of 2008.

No need to say anything more - Valor has made a stunning declaration of purpose and he has simply produced what is possibly the best work of his life -- and the best album of christian Death...