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CHRISTIAN MISTRESS “Children of the Earth”
CHRISTIAN MISTRESS “Children of the Earth”
By Iron Sheik
CHRISTIAN MISTRESS from Olympia, WA hits right square in the middle of our 80s heart. Familiar and heavy “Children Of The Earth” is the cult traditional metaller's first album in ten years. If 80s style heavy metal is what you are looking for CHRISTIAN MISTRESS will fill that spot. Inspiration can come from the oddest places, and this time it came from "ancient writings found on a gold tablet or orphic inscription in an unmarked grave within a large necropolis in southern Italy. Inscriptions laid out instructions for the seeker to find the Lake Of Memory in the realm of Hades. With the seeker to pass by and say I am a child of the Earth and starry Heaven, as they pass on to death." With such inspiration let's see what Christine Davis (vocals), Jonny Would (guitar/bass), Tim Diedrich (guitar), Reuben Storey (drums) offer up on this latest release.
“Mythmaker” is the first single just released, and it rocks with an intensity not unlike anything from the 80s. It reminds me of nights lying on the couch in my basement in the dark with eyes closed listening to Z-Rock circa 1986. Meditative might be the mood it imparts. With opening track “City Of Gold” there is a slight DEF LEPPARD “High 'n' Dry” era sound in the guitar while in the solo there is an YNGWIE feel to it. That sets the stage for pretty much the rest of the album. A tour through paying an homage to CJSS, BITCH, RAVAGE, GIRLSCHOOL or even CULPRIT. CHRISTIAN MISTRESS has their very own distinct sound, but “Children Of The Earth” would have fit into the 80s alongside the aforementioned bands if you did not know it was released in 2025.
“Demon's Night” speaks of the end, but let's hope it is the beginning. It ends with a cool solo outro. “Lake Of Memory” has a very momentary familiar sound ala KROKUS' “Tokyo Nights” with the aforementioned inspirational “we are children of the Earth and starry Heaven” used in the chorus. This song tells of the finding of the inscriptions. “Shadow” brings us to the end with a cool short acapella intro before Christine sings about seeing "the shadow of my former self." It puts me in mind of “Lost Reflection” by CRIMSON GLORY. "We could be gods in the pantheon, we could be anything." They sure could be. They sure are on their way.
My recurring thought listening to “Children Of The Earth” is "are we back in the 80s underground scene?" It's not a bad place to be as that era produced some classic bands and albums like I referenced above. With a raw familiar heavy sound they are a band with potential. Production like that of CHRISTIAN MISTRESS' “Children Of The Earth” makes it an album that will not sound dated. As a whole it sounds like it was recorded in analog giving it that warmth of sound only analog can give us. With ancient writings from a tomb I would say it gives one plenty of ideas. It turned out to be quite a bit of material to inspire an album for Christian Mistress. From deriving the album title and cover to further inspiring a song by the title of “Lake Of Memory” that would be the beginning. What a beginning it is!
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