Crimson Glory (Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
Date:	13/06/08 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Perfects the eighties melodic metal sound.

Disadvantages: Product of its time.

Crimson Glory were an important band in the development of progressive and power metal in the second half of the eighties, though they didn't know it at the time. Their self-titled album is a confident and almost definitive debut release, offering some classic melodic heavy metal familiar to fans of Dio and the American scene, but infusing subtle atmospheric and neoclassical elements with introspective lyrics to help establish metal as a serious genre, an important crusade indeed when battling the ridiculous likes of Poison and Nitro dominating the mainstream metal charts.

Singer Midnight has an incredible voice, and this may be the deciding factor for many newcomers. His wails are entirely high-pitched, not going as far as the purposefully melodramatic King Diamond but exceeding most of his peers and perfectly complimenting Jon Drenning's high lead guitars. Despite being viewed as a progressive metal progenitor, the material here is fairly standard and predictable, though this doesn't count against it. Songs such as 'Valhalla' and 'Mayday' are fast, catchy and wholly enjoyable heavy metal, while 'Heart of Steel' and 'Lost Reflection' offer something lighter without becoming too cheesy.

1. Valhalla
2. Dragon Lady
3. Heart of Steel
4. Azrael
5. Mayday
6. Queen of the Masquerade
7. Angels of War
8. Lost Reflection

Summary: Crimson Glory's first album (1986).