IN STRICT CONFIDENCE LA PARADE MONSTRUEUSE ALBUM MINUSWELT, METROPOLIS, WONDERLAND RELEASE: FEBRUARY 26, 2010 (GERMANY), APRIL 13, 2010 (USA), APRIL 14, 2010 (SWEDEN) REVIEW: APRIL 28, 2010

I remember thinking Dennis Osterman's move away from the classic body sound into some sort of gothic rock hybrid was quite a stretch. Still, new album "La Parade Monstrueuse" has proven to be well among the best releases by In Strict Confidence to date.

First single "My Despair" did not quite represent the manic feel of the album, in spite of it being a mellow little piece of gothic pop. Other tracks impress me, like second single "Silver Bullets" or the sheer crossover beauty of "Set Me Free" and "I Surrender" where Antje Schultz's brilliant vocals accompany the blackness of Osterman's stale chords.

"La Parade Monstrueuse" holds up all through its eleven varied slabs of electronic rock mayhem and leaves me to re-assess the talent of In Strict Confidence.

NIKLAS FORSBERG