vision thing is the sound of a rock band at the height of its powers - an intellectual and visceral tour de force. it takes a different direction to other sisters output, with a clear metal inlfuence. but don't be fooled by the initially quite superficial sound, which will soon begin to reveal many layers and subtleties. this is a record fuelled not by testosterone and angst but by irony, wit and venom. never has a songwriter produced such astonishing lyrics: "her lovers queued up in the hallway/ i heard them scratching at the door/ i tried to tell her about marx and engels, god and angels/ i don't really know what for/ but she looked good in ribbons/ SO JUST WALK ON IN" and allied them to such a pounding, savage sound. it's not all amps turned up to 11, however, as a couple of more reflective songs shows. don't listen to those that will tell you the sisters are goths. they're not (although quite a few of their fans are). this is more than just a rock record. this is an example of rock band at its most audacious, its most ambitious. it's a towering achievement.