Where the Light Dies: The Sisters of Mercy Cast Their Spell Over the Roundhouse
- Alan Bryce
- May 29
- 3 min read
The Roundhouse London 26th May 2025
IMAGES / WORDS ALAN BRYCE
Sisters of Mercy were formed in Leeds, England in 1980 by multi-instrumentalist and singer Andrew Eldritch and guitarist Gary Marx. Initially, Eldritch performed drumming duties before replacing his drumming with a drum machine in 1981, allowing him to focus solely on vocals. The drum machine, named Dr Avalanche, became an integral part of the band's setup and sound and has remained to this day.
The band underwent several lineup changes before releasing their debut album, 'First and Last and Always,' with the lineup of Eldritch, Adams, Hussey, and Marx. The album peaked at No. 14 on the UK album charts.
Shortly after the release of the debut album, the band split, with Hussey and Adams forming 'The Mission.' Eldritch briefly continued under the name 'The Sisterhood' before reverting to the Sisters of Mercy name.
In 1987, with Eldritch and Patricia Morrison, Sisters of Mercy released 'Floodland.' Eldritch played all instruments and programmed the drums on Dr Avalanche, with Morrison providing backing vocals. The album received favourable reviews and reached No. 9 on the UK album charts. The first single, 'This Corrosion,' peaked at No. 7 on the singles charts, with 'Dominion' and 'Lucretia My Reflection' also making it into the top 20.
More lineup changes occurred before recording the 1990 album 'Vision Things'. This album recorded by the Eldritch, Bricheno, Bruhn, and James line-up. The lead single 'More' reached No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts in the US, and the album reached No. 22 on the UK charts. This was the last album release of the Sisters of Mercy.
Despite suggestions of new album releases, nothing has materialised as of 2025. Since 'Vision Things,' the band hasn't released any material commercially, but they perform new material during live shows. They have built up a significant catalogue of non-album songs and perform these on their near-yearly tours.
The band has seen more lineup changes over the years but has maintained some consistency. From 1993 to 2006, the core members were Eldritch and Adam Pearson, with Chris Catalyst joining in 2006 and Ben Christo shortly after. Catalyst stepped away in 2019 and was replaced by Dylan Smith. Christo remains a current member.
In 2023, Smith was replaced by Kai, a guitarist, songwriter, and producer. Catalyst rejoined the band as Dr Avalanche Operator. This lineup of Eldritch, Christo, Kai, and Catalyst toured North America in 2024 and completed a 9-date European and UK tour, culminating in two nights at the historical ROUNDHOUSE in Camden, London.
I attended the second night in London', the last night of the tour. The set opened with 'Lucretia My Reflection,' a fan favourite that energized the crowd. They then played three non-album singles, including 'Alice,' before launching into 'Dominion/Mother Russia.' The next few songs were non-album singles, except for 'A Rock and a Hard Place' from their debut album, which was well-received despite not being a single from the album.
Mid-set, they performed 'Giving Ground,' the only single from Eldritch’s 'Sisterhood' project. 'More' followed, along with more non-album tracks and 'Flood II,' before ending on 'Temple of Love.' The audience eagerly wanted more, and the band returned for an encore comprising 'Neverland – A Fragment,' 'Vision Thing,' and the hugely popular 'This Corrosion.'
The show was filled with drama, intrigue, and theatre, with lighting and smoke designed for maximum effect. Eldritch's strong vocals and well-coordinated movements added to the performance's intrigue and mystery. Christo and Kai, exceptional musicians, complemented Eldritch perfectly, balancing drama with energy and excitement. Catalyst’s role as Dr Avalanche Operator was seamless.
Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable show, well-attended by a diverse demographic, from young fans to older ones who have been with the band since the beginning. This speaks to the music's strength, still being listened to and discovered. Despite only releasing three albums, the band remains popular, and the presence of younger fans bodes well for their future. I’d love to see a new Sisters album, and I expect them to be back on the road soon.
I will be attending another show.
Set list
1/ Lucretia My Reflection
2/ Crash and Burn
3/ Don't Drive on Ice
4/ Alice
5/ Dominion / Mother Russia
6/ I Will Call You
7/ A Rock and a Hard Place
8/ We Are the Same, Susanne
9/Quantum Baby
10/ Giving Ground(The Sisterhood cover)
11/ More
12/ But Genevieve
13/ Something Fast
14/ Flood II
15/ When I'm on Fire
16/ On the Beach
17/ Temple of Love
18/ Never Land (A Fragment)
19/ Vision Thing
20/ This Corrosion
FOLLOW SISTERS OF MERCY
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