RESISTANCE
A Tale of Decadence
(CD)

Description

Album based on the novel “The Monk” by Matthew Gregory Lewis, published in 1796.
Tracks 1-4: Act I – The Sin of Agnes
Tracks 5-8: Act II – A Temptation named Antonia
Track 9: Act III – Lucifer has spoken
Plot Summary:
The story concerns Ambrosio – a pious, well-respected monk in Spain – and his violent downfall. He is undone by carnal lust for his pupil, a woman disguised as a monk (Matilda), who tempts him to transgress, and, once satisfied by her, is overcome with desire for the innocent Antonia. Using magic spells, Matilda aids him in seducing Antonia, whom he later rapes and kills. Matilda is eventually revealed as an instrument of Satan in female form, who has orchestrated Ambrosio’s downfall from the start. In the middle of telling this story Lewis frequently makes further digressions, which serve to heighten the Gothic atmosphere of the tale while doing little to move along the main plot. A lengthy story about a “Bleeding Nun” is told, and many incidental verses are introduced. A second romance, between Lorenzo and Antonia, also gives way to a tale of Lorenzo’s sister being tortured by hypocritical nuns (as a result of a third romantic plot). Eventually, the story catches back up with Ambrosio, and in several pages of impassioned prose, Ambrosio is delivered into the hands of the Inquisition; he escapes by selling his soul to the devil for his deliverance from the death sentence which awaits him. The story ends with the devil preventing Ambrosio’s attempted final repentance, and the sinful monk’s prolonged torturous death. Ambrosio finds out by the devil that the woman that he had raped and killed, Antonia, was indeed his sister.

Track List:
1. The Preach instrumental
2.Loss of Innocence
3.The Bloody Nun
4.A Premature Burial
5.Conjurer of Fate
6.A Silent Kill
7.Revenant instrumental
8.The Rape
9.In Expiation of His Crimes