Crimson Tears - The Dark Awakening
CD Info
2007
Self-Released
10 Tracks
English Lyrics
Crimson Tears is a symphonic / gothic power metal band from United Kingdom and this is their first full-length disc. Their songs are upbeat, enthusiastic and occasionally quite epic with heavy, crunchy guitars and pervasive lush symphonic keys. Most songs are a skillful mix of mid-paced hard-rocking power metal leads and riffs along and absolutely exquisite vocal melodies and haunting choruses. There are sparse progressive touches in the guitar riffs and occasional surprisingly aggressive passages with a harder guitar tone and faster drumming. There are also several beautiful slower piano-driven ballad passages; this lushness along with many of the vocal melodies often gives the power metal a pleasingly warm gothic feel.
Their female vocalist, Gina Oldham, has an amazing versatility and range of styles, and she sounds comfortable and musical in all of them. She effortlessly transitions from an extremely beautiful and musical soaring soprano to an intense, expressive, penetrating alto to an aggressive, almost harsh, alto. She is particularly adept at fitting her vocal approach to the underlying power level of the music; when it is hard-rocking she is fiercely out in front of it and when it is lush and gothic her tone is rich and enchanting. There is occasional male vocal narration and he is excellent – clear and dramatic without ever sounding the least bit silly or overly theatrical.
The Dark Awakening features some of the strongest song-writing I have heard. Every song, without exception, is fresh and invigorating with at least one completely unforgettable hook – most often it is a vocal melody or chorus, but sometimes it is a catchy yet lightly complex riff or a beautiful keyboard passage. Symphonic power metal with female vocals includes several terrific bands such as Nightwish, Epica, After Forever, Lunatica, Edenbridge and Dawn of Destiny, yet this is quite a crowded genre. It still surprises me when a new-comer can break into this genre it with a disc that sounds fresh and interesting; Crimson Tears is indeed the biggest surprise of 2007 for me.
For more information visit the band’s MySpace site http://www.myspace.com/ukcrimsontears or http://www.crimson-tears.co.uk
9.0 / 10
