GLASGOW--The Sisters of Mercy haven't released any new material since 1990, but the band has kept the spirit and mystery alive by continuously touring over the past decade. New material was kept under lock and key until East West Records finally let frontman Andrew Eldritch out of his contract with the label in 1997. Since then, new songs have slowly emerged in live shows.

Saturday's (9/2) gig at the Barrowlands (which could easily be mistaken for a strip club due to its large neon sign) was the first on the Sisters' U.K. tour. After making it past metal detectors and having their spiked-dog collars confiscated, the Sisters' fans--ranging in age from the early teens to near the mid-century mark--settled in for an inspired performance.

Considering the venue's shabby interior, Eldritch and guitarists Adam Varjak and Mike Pearson had a surprisingly good stage and sound system at their disposal. Wearing a white puffa jacket, white shirt and black trousers, Eldritch emerged from a cloud of smoke to kick off the gig with "First and Last and Always." Still intact were his trademark dark sunglasses and his habitual chain-smoking.

The Sisters have progressed in their delivery and style, but the raw ingenuity which first intoxicated fans on "First and Last and Always" in 1985 could still be heard in new songs like "War on Drugs" and "We Are the Same, Suzanne." Old material was on a peak as well, as Eldritch fervently performed "Temple of Love," "Vision Thing" and "Detonation Boulevard," his extensive vocal range rivaling that of Beck or Frank Black.

For nearly two hours, 1,700 people were drawn into the colorfully lit, misty world of the Sisters. As the line-up has continuously changed since the group's inception in 1980, it has been Eldritch's charisma that has kept the band going. And Saturday's show, which ended with the promise of "See you soon," suggested that the unfaltering frontman and his crew will deliver a stunning fourth album in the near future.