THE BEAUTY IN BLACK

Released in 1995 in advance of the fine "Lepaca Kliffoth" album, this four track single simply contains four tracks which would appear on that album.

It may seem odd that this single does not start with its title track, but in fact "Arrival of the Darkest Queen" and "The Beauty in Black" link together to form a cohesive whole. While the forthcoming album represented the last of the old more than the start of the new, these two segued songs gave a clear indication of the direction in which the band was heading. Operatic vocals and tasteful instrumentation abound in this wonderful taste of the future.

"Evocation of vovin" turned out to be the only other track on the album to hint at the new, the symphonic instrumentation being rather at odds with Chris Johnsson's rudimentary vocals. "The Veil of Golden Spheres" only appeared as a bonus track on later editions of the album, and is something of a throwaway tune (as later admitted by Johnsson himself).

In all, a useful collection of the most significant songs on "Lepaca Kliffoth", but in itself the single is only valid as a collectors item.