Mystical Music #4, GERMANY
Besides the typical Metal elements the gothic synth tunes and a vitalizing female voice gives this perfectly produced drama an undescribable aura which indeed evokes the concept of the occult knowledge about the creatures of the night...technical complexity and an intelligent level denies all comparisons to cheap copies...even uncontrolled passion is not missed here...overwhelming lyrical and musical engagement...rich of facets and it is truly a bewitching satisfaction to get overpowered by very strong emotions...you can only "survive" this album with merciless devotion for they üresent the opera of the vampire in instrumental, lyrical and graphic format. I have believed in this band since their 1993 demo. watch out for their next album - out on Cacophonous as well - on which they should raise their advantages again, what might happen indeed. I am sure of this!
(Dominik Irtenkauf)

GODREAH #6 UK
I've been waiting for this since I received the rough mix...a masterpiece of emotion charged musical art...stirring atmospheres to create dark requiems swathed in exquisite harmonies and unusual primordial soundscapes. The music is original in its gothic format though the use of oriental melodies literally takes the breath away. The aura of vampyires bemoaning there cursed souls is an apt description for the infernal symphonies awaiting to be discovered by you....!
(Crin; GODREAH 33 Lilac Road Hoddesdon Herts EN11 0PG UK)

ROCK HARD #135 (08/98) Germany
The vampires are here!...also our German landmates of Ancient Ceremony have adapted the sujet of the pale nighthunters in their lyrics and as it should be for a Death/Gothic band they have a vocalist screaming and a chantress singing. The melancholic sound of the crypt i´s cool to listen to as the songs vary a lot in their arrangments and have a compact atmosphere...individual note, sounds better than most actual albums of established acts. You can not expect much more of a good record nowadays. So check it out!
(Kai Wendel) 7.5 points out of 10

Moondance Mag #4, Germany
A grand overture of gothic inspired, romantic Metal has been delivered unto us by this German band. A vampyric symphony...This is gloomy Gothic Metal adorned with erotic tension and romantic melancholy, music that...goes beneath the skin and shows up the band's potential to create sth. deeper than the usual trendy boredom. A RECOMMENDABLE GOTHIC SERENADE!
(Timo Kölling)

Metal Inquisition e-Zine, Sweden
ANCIENT CEREMONY do Goth Metal and they do it better than most other bands. The sound is melancholic with female and various male vocals, synth, piano and guitars. All twelve tracks are brilliant. ANCIENT CEREMONY deserve credit for this album. If you are into Goth Metal this one of the albums you should kill for.
(Lord Loch Lomond)

Lamentation Zine #10, Hungary
First of all, I love atmosphere in Metal. And that's exactly what this album has...like romantic Vampyric Metal that is a mixture of Gothic, Death, Darkwave and classical music, loaded with beautiful keyboard themes, good guitar riffs and emotion. They use many vocal styles and I really like that parts. You get harsh male vocals, intelligent female singing and some whispers as well. The production is almost flawless, so overall a good effort from these guys! OVERWHELMING!
(Bechtel J. Ervin)

Vampiria Mag, Italy; #2
ANCIENT CEREMONY is one of those bands who are untypical even if play a music setting in the Gothic current. Melancholy and epic sounds make this album a beautiful perl shining in the seduction of its melodies exalted by a sensual female voice and by a savage atmosphere. "Thy Beauty in Candlelight" overwhelms me in quixotic scenarios, while "Pale Nocturnal Majesty" carries me into the meanders of the dream. In this album you will be enchanted by Gothic melodies, Classical and Dark elements for an impressive music which will embrace you like a voluptuous snake.
(Francesco Palumbo; 4,5 points out of 5)

Chronicles Of Chaos e-Zine, April 13, 1998, Issue #30
Vampyric symphonic metal -- perhaps that's a reasonably accurate description of what _Under Moonlight We Kiss_ sounds like. If that description reminds you of Cradle of Filth, forget about that; there's much less black metal here than in CoF's music and a far stronger emphasis is placed on dark romanticism, vampyrism and mid-paced keyboard-based melodies. Keyboards therefore play a major role in Ancient Ceremony, and they're clearly the highlight in their music. The vocals (male, from black to spoken/whispered, and female) are also very good, and work very well with the keyboard sound. However, despite these promising qualities, _Under Moonlight We Kiss_ is let down by a significant lack of instrumental strength on the part of the drums and guitars. Both drum and guitar work are just average, and sound rather weak most of the time. Still, despite being somewhat let down by a less than adequate production, the melodic side of _UMWK_ makes it an interesting album; and if you're attracted to the subjects dealt with here, then you may very well enjoy the atmosphere as well and the production faults mentioned above may seem much less important.
(Pedro Azevedo 7 out of 10)

Eternity Zine; Germany
When listening to "Under Moonlight we kiss" the first times the music of ANCIENT CEREMONY sounded a bit peculiar to me because of a certain avandgardistic touch but in the meanwhile this album totally fascinates me. I'd describe their music as "black influenced classic Gothic-Metal"...many other musical influences...the album-title suits into the musical atmosphere though there is also a melancholic touch as if this was "the last kiss". In any case a very beautiful, epic and dramatic debut...of course with female vocals (sometimes spoken) and keyboards. Fans of dark sounds are highly recommended to give this a listen for the style of ANCIENT CEREMONY is unique!
(Katja Kruzewitz; 5 points out of 6 - mighty!)

Pull the Chain #11; Belgium
CACOPHONOUS releases some great albums...ANCIENT CEREMONY deserve some success...Their brand of Black Metal is of the melodic kind, lots of atmospheres, various kinds of keys, original female vocals that are more powerful than the usual ones...the band have opted for great instrumentation and atmospheres (again) complementing the great songwriting. Vocals (male) are more typical BM...giving music enough place to display its great maturity. If some of you know other bands with the same direction as these Germans, let me know!
(Stephane Ronvaux; 9 points out of 10)

Deftone 02/98; Germany
Finally there it is, the debut full-length of ANCIENT CEREMONY...now they are signed to London-based cult label CACOPHONOUS and released through them an impressive album here. It is mainly the dark atmosphere and the dreamy melodies to create the unique character of this record, they affect you immediately without lacking of the necessary aggression...some really brilliant parts to which you can listen again and again, they definitely get not boring one bloody second...simply listen to "Thy Beauty in Candlelight" or "Angel's bloody Tears"...extravagant keyboard arrangments dominate "Under Moonlight we kiss" and I really mean extravagant...it is mainly the performance of Stefan Mueller to impress within the songs but also the other musicians get enough space to express themselves, before all the two vocalists Chris Anderle and Sandra, who perfectly present the lyrical concept of the album and who sound better a lot than most others in the genre...strong female voice...all very skillful musicians. Summary: "Under Moonlight we kiss" has been - with its love for the detail - without any doubt one of the most positive surprises for a longer period and one can only hope that ANCIENT CEREMONY will get the encouragement they deserve.
(Marco Steinmetz; 12 points out of 15)

Bowedome # 2; Finland
I thought ANCIENT CEREMONY could be cool - and they are! This is more progressive and symphonic than pure Black Metal kind...very fine with me as ANCIENT CEREMONY do it how they feel it and keep up with some extremity too. Their keyboard- and female vocals-stuff is just as well made as the Metal here...They're good and might blow out few people. ANCIENT CEREMONY are also MAIDEN-fans, what you can hear... (9 points out of 10)

Ablaze # 19; Germany
...interesting influences...partly eerie, partly harmonic are their arrangments with themes of Metal and classical music...huming riffs that sometimes turn into leads mix up with keyboard-tunes...impressive female chants...the dark elegance, presenting the key to the dimension beyond, makes this out put an interesting experience...

Extreme Subterranea Records; USA
Long awaited full-length album on CACOPHONOUS by CULT German Black Metal band of the highest calibre order! Supremely vampyric neo-classical-based atmospheric BM speed&darkness (with royal/regal approach to both, brutal power and Gothic beauty)!!

Last Episode Records; Germany
Very dramatic Black Metal, highly recommended!

Nuclear Blast Records; Germany
Romatic Black Metal with Gothic elements such as piano or female chants as well as deepest emotions. A unique experience!!

Grinder Magazine, October 1997; Chile
And yet another great signing of CACOPHONOUS Records - ANCIENT CEREMONY from Trier, Germany is the first band on this label that can really use the footsteps CRADLE OF FILTH made with "The Principle of evil made Flesh". Melancholic but fast guitar riffs, great bass play and the enchanting and dark vocals of vocalist Chris Anderle as well as the keyboard as a main element of ANCIENT CEREMONY's music, combines with lyrics that deal with Goethe, Nietzsche, de Sade, Stoker or Crowley make "Under Moonlight we kiss" a milestone in the Romantic/Vampyre genre....! The CD is opened with a more silent intro named "Eternal Goddess" that turns to the first two brilliant songs entitled "Her Ivory Slumber" and "Shadows of the Undead" that proove a lot of ANCIENT CEREMONY's possible performance. "Thy Beauty in Candlelight", "Dulcet Seduction" or "Pale Nocturnal Majesty" follow the previous songs and simultanuously an eerie and romantic atmosphere, supported by the voice of guest -musician Sandra, who also speaks some part in Latin...! As a result I must admit that ANCIENT CEREMONY are one of the few bands with REAL future, therefore I hope that they get thze best-possible distribution. For all among you that didn't like the ways CRADLE OF FILTH went after "The principle of evil made Flesh", I may recommend "Under Moonlight we kiss" to you because it's the album that "Vempire" should have been. Enchant your Spirit and kiss Eternity by embracing your Soul with the dark melancholic Incinity of ANCIENT CEREMONY...!
(Oliver Schoenknecht; 4 points out of 5)

Orkus - Magazine, 09 / 1997; Germany
- ...a mixture of Gothic Black Metal and decent Darkwave - elements with many piano - / synth - parts; a female singer with a mystic voice; a vampyresque, epic opera of darkness, which allows no comparison to any other band; it is pleasant that the vocals of Chris and Sandra are not that different (not like at THEATRE OF TRAGEDY for example); the vocals here are performed in a potent mixture and combine with the partly really rough guitars, which appear together with the synth - tunes, and thus celebrate harmonic songs of the elite!

Metal Hammer, 09 / 1997; Germany
- ...dark, epic Vampyre - opera; the music of Germany's Ancient Ceremony reminds me of an old tapestry (carpet), that got dark with the time: melancholic, but powerful colours, ornaments in arousal and mystic motives. Ancient Ceremony offer anything a "Gruftiheart" desires. Besides classical German Darkwave, Swedish Death Metal and melodic Heavy Metal the band seems to have a special favour for classic - tunes in the vein of Bach or Beethoven, which finds ist reflection for example in the mini - sonett "Vampyre's Birth"...for people who like opulent, dark music.

Fantasies Of Tragedy Mag, #1; Sweden
...it is much more than just Doom / Death, I think it has some similarities with bands like MOONSPELL and THERION. The Heavy Metal influences do also shine through, some guitar melodies remind me of IRON MAIDEN. The whole album feels more like an opus rather than several different songs. It's filled with fantastic keyboards and great melodies, creating a very dark and romantic atmosphere. The vocal repertoire is vast, everything from Black vocals to some excellent female vocals. "Under Moonlight we kiss" is filled with emotions and romance and will most certainly not leave you unaffected.

Silence Diary Magazine, 09/97; Czech Republic
When I heard the title of this album I was afraid it will be a copy of the English vampyric black. But nothing like that happened and it would be a blasphemy to put Ancient Ceremony into one box. Their music includes elements of the best what human ears nowadays want to hear, clever keyboard ideas, dark and melancholic atmospheres and enchanting female vocals. The music is still dynamic and interesting enough and what is most imprtant, it sounds original. Another band from Germany, which stand on their own.

Circle of the Tyrants Magazine, Germany 08/97
The dark synth-intro "Eternal Goddess" leads us to a journey through the realm of Ancient Ceremony, which is rather big/variable, you are wandering through very different spheres there. On the one you visit faeries, at others you meet cruel and thunder...mostly hot as hell itself. There is also some time to calm down, before one of the synth passages will lead you into other worlds. Ancient Ceremony are THE mixture of Gothic, Darkwave, Doom and Black Metal. Beautiful depression and melancholic melodies combine with vocals, that appear partly whispered, partly screamed. As they are able to transfer their emotions to the listener this is an album you should definitely check out! (8 of 10 points)