The first thing that came into my mind, when I listened to the new Theatre Of Tragedy album was a question, Is this the same band, which had released albums such as Velvet Darkness They Fear and Aegis ? . The answer is unfortunately Yes!!! . This album, Assembly , seems to be the personal album of Liv Kristine.

Assembly is the mainstream continuance of their previous album Musique . The listener can find sounds and influences from different kinds of music such as gothic, rock, electro, pop, EBM, as well as some metal guitars. We have to keep in mind that T.O.T. had cooperated with groups such as VNV Nation and Icon Of Coil.

Taking as a consideration the new reality around the group, I have to judge their new album in a fair way and to receive their willingness for progress as an act of good faith. The album is a good piece of, generally speaking, pop music; this is not absolutely a negative element, full of catchy choruses and happy, dance tunes. For one more time Liv appeared as a gothic rock vamp, under the words of her image-maker, and left the rest of the group to complete the artwork and the photographs. Her voice remains in good condition, something that can be easily realized by listening to her either ethereal or straight rock vocals. On the other hand I am still trying to find Raymond I. Rohonyi s vocals, but I can hardly spot some lyrics dressed with his voice (Where is the grim, brutal voice?)

Album includes some floorkiller songs such as Let You Down that is the first single, and Superdrive , as well as a trip hop song, like these that The Gathering used to include in their albums, called Motion .

This album is not suggested to the oldschool fans of the group, because is to mainstream and soft for their ears. This album is for those who want to listen a harder version of their favourite dance/electro pop bands.