Ελληνικά
Genre: Melodic Power/Death Metal
Country: Canada
Label: Napalm Records
Year: 2014
Some older guys will maybe remember the Swedish garage rock band of ’80s Crimson Shadows, who successfully emulated the American sound of ’60s psychedelic tunes into their material. That’s not the case here. It’s about the Canadian’s Crimson Shadows, who play melodic power/death metal.
This band was formed in 2006 and its base is in Toronto. It’s a five members’ band (Jimi Maltais on vocals, Ryan Hofing on guitars, Greg Rounding on guitars and vocals, Morgan Rider on bass and backing vocals and Cory Hofing on drums) and they have four recordings ’till today (two EPs and two full – length albums). An important point is the fact that the band won the “Wacken Metal Battle” in 2013 and that was one of the main reasons why they signed with Napalm Records.
Their last record is called “Kings among Men”, consistent of ten songs and the European release date was the 1st of September 2014. If someone listens to the very first songs of their EP “Death, Power, Glory” and then the songs of this recording, it’s sure that he will notice a physical progress of the band during the last seven years. Their first album “Glory of the Battlefield” is a power – epic album with some death – black – oriented vocals. “Kings among Men” is enriched with more powerful and wrathful vocals, full of growls and melodic clean parts. Musically, this album is a logical continuousness of the previous one. Maybe, there are some more death metal paths than they used to play and also, there are a lot of stunning guitar solos. Specifically, on one hand there are epic up – tempo guitar harmonies, seraphic riffs and choruses of power metal and on the other hand there are screams, formidable bass and breakneck drumming of melodic death metal. The compositions of this record are more mature than older ones and melody is put together with beasty rhythms and aggression.
The overall sense is that Crimson Shadows have already made important steps during last two years. We can say that Crimson Shadows is a powerful band that combines successfully the elements of power and death metal. Lyrical themes are inspired both from battles, magic, legends and fate and from villains, evil, darkness and despair. Of course, anyone can recognize influences from bands such as Dragonforce, Rhapsody, Blind Guardian and Children of Bodom, but this isn’t so negative point, as someone may believe. Maybe the most negative thing is the plethora of melodic guitar solos and parts throughout the album that at some point make you feel tired.
RECOMMENDED SONGS: “Maidens Call” and “Freedom & Salvation”
3,5 / 6
