The sound of an English Gothic rock band is unmistakable which shouldn't be surprising considering the Brits led the way in the genre. They don't sound like German Goth, American Goth, French Goth, or any other Goth. They don't even all sound alike. Bauhaus sound nothing like the Cure, Sisters of Mercy nothing like Sex Gang Children, and Killing Joke nothing like Killing Miranda. Yet there is a certain commonality that distinguishes them from the rest. Okay, so you must have guessed by now that Guillotine Dream is an English Gothic rock band, from the nethermost regions of Somerset they say. This band goes back to the mid-80's, but their output was slim (a cassette demo was about it) due to personal, and other circumstances. Now though, they have sprung this six-track EP and it certainly hearkens back to the glory days of Goth. Members are Arc - guitars, vocals; Lake - bass; Mapk - drums, vocals. Their identities are "a loosely guarded secret" but they all admit to having played in the Gothic Death Doom Metal band My Silent Wake. I'd have to say Arc is obviously Ian Arkley, while the others, I'm not totally sure of. I'm guessing that the raison d'être for Guillotine Dream is that Arkley wanted to do something more straight ahead gothic rock. To a degree what they sound like is Fields of the Nephilim with the tongue-in-cheekiness of Spinal Tap. Arc apparently has the Carl McCoy raspy vocal style down pat. But there are other influences here as well - The Cure, Sisters, Mission, Joy Division and more. And yes, it's derivative, a throwback if you will, but while more, newer so-called gothic rock bands are indulging in elaborate production and striving for a hit single, these guys remain true to their roots and put forth the kind of dark music you loved in the 80's and 90's. Nothing fancy, just solid, intense goth-rock. I'm sure if this album was released in 1986 this band would have made its mark at the time. While I can't really pick a "best track" on 'Lemuria' I'm somewhat partial to the Nick Cave-ish "Man on Fyre," although the songwriting is quite good across the board. If basic goth-rock with attitude and atmosphere is what's been lacking in your life, let Guillotine Dream fill the void.