This is album number two for one of America’s pioneers of the infant progressive metal movement. They are often called Queensryche clones which is very unfair as they definitely have their own sound and this is the their finest hour. Yup, Midnight does sing in that high register and has a hint of the operatic, as does Geoff Tate, but the music is going in a much different path. Queensryche gave up the metal in favour of epic statement but as you can hear here, Crimson Glory most definitely did not.
Opener and my favourite track Lady Of Winter is one of the better opening tracks you will hear anywhere. Killer riff and groove, and that hook and chorus for a metal band is top drawer. A more speed metal vibe to Red Sharks, and dare I say a hint of a Maiden gallop. That middle and ending is killer! Painted Skies is the one track where they do sound like Queensryche and it’s all down to the vocals. Back to the metal with Masque Of The Red Death, and this is where the band really shine for me. Side 1 closes out with In Dark Places, a big evil sounding dramatic piece with a very familiar riff 😉.
Side 2 opens up with Where Dragons Rule. A huge sounding, epic intro with awesome twin harmony guitars with a big Holy Diver vibe. Lonely follows and Midnight’s voice is the centre piece to this track, right from the slow intro to the end and it’s as close as this band get to a single. Cool riff! Burning Bridges is up next and a very similar intro and vibe to Lonely, but when that main riff kicks in… killer. Eternal World has the most epic of intros with a cool time change into the main tune. Heaviest track on the album? I would say so. The title track closes out the album with a huge sounding intro that flows into a somewhat medieval vibe.
Great record that sounds huge with a top production and mix.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
