Band:	Diary Of Dreams
Album:	Alive
Style:	Darkwave
Release date:	September 2005

01. Menschfeind
02. Reign Of Chaos
03. The Curse
04. Giftraum
05. End Of Flowers
06. Methusalem
07. Chemicals
08. But The Wind Was Stronger
09. Play God!
10. Soul Stripper
11. O' Brother Sleep
12. Traumtänzer
13. AmoK

Diary Of Dreams, I think, don't need special introductions since they consist of one of the best and most personal bands that made their appearance in the gothic scene during the first half of the 90s and keep on releasing inspired albums filled with intense emotions.

"Alive", at last, is their first recorded live document and I strictly believe that every fan of this impressive band should own it. The reasons why are, for sure, many and reasonable. One of those reasons why someone should buy "Alive" is the fact that the sound of this live album is perfect and every instrument can be heard clearly with every member of the band, on that tour, pouring his soul on stage and thus the outcome is fabulous.

Also, the guitar's sound is crystal clear when their gothic rock oriented melodies need to echo, with Gaun:A doing an exceptional work, the drumming is real, leaving behind the electro beat, with D.N.S lending the ideal imposing feeling that the sound of Diary Of Dreams requires so as to be more intense and Adrian Hates is deeply expressive, giving voice in the most surrounding and esoteric way to his utterly poetic, personal and emotional lyrics! A beautiful surprise, for me, was the participation of the charismatic main man of the incredible band bearing the name Diorama, Torben Wendt, in the keyboards, making the overall fragile aesthetic of Diary Of Dreams more vivid, while his serene heart-rending backing vocals make the overall emotional charge more affected and present.

Some of the songs consisting of this live album are the all time Diary Of Dreams classics "End Of Flowers", "Methusalem" and "But The Wind Was Stronger". Others consist of must-listen opuses, coming from their second era after "Psychoma?", compositions like "The Curse", "Giftraum", "Chemicals", "O' Brother Sleep", "Traumtänzer" and the deeply emotional piano version of "AmoK" in the end with Adrian Hates ending "Alive" in the most appropriate way. What is really remarkable as well is the booklet which is filled with artistic black n' white pictures of the band while on stage, completing the sounding beauty of "Alive".

"Alive" is the ideal present from the band to their fans while waiting for the new Diary Of Dreams album that will come out somewhere around 2006. Just proceed and you'll cherish some of your favorite Diary Of Dreams compositions in their most complete and emotional, better than the album versions if you ask me, form.