The revamped lineup of Crimson Glory that has been making the rounds on the festival circuit since 2023 has proven to be quite the compelling live act. Look no further than our review of their set at last year’s edition of Legions of Metal. However, the question remained: How would this current iteration of the band translate to the studio, and more importantly, SHOULD it even be attempted? Was the prospect of a Crimson Glory album minus Midnight at the helm even worthwhile? Well, considering history has made us forget that the last Midnight-fronted CG album was an ill-fated foray into mainstream hard rock (1991’s Strange and Beautiful) and its virtually forgotten follow up, 1999’s Astronomica featuring Wade Black on vocals, was much closer to the band’s signature sound, I remained open minded.
We’ve seen no shortage of other legendary bands down a classic member or two or three manage to create albums worthy of their moniker and the respective prestige they hold. That is most certainly what Crimson Glory attempts to do with their latest effort, Chasing the Hydra. Introducing new singer Travis Wills and lead guitarist Mark Borgmeyer, founding members Jeff Lords (bass), Dana Burnell (drums), and Ben Jackson (rhythm guitar) are giving the band that originally formed nearly half a century ago under the moniker Pierced Arrow one more go-around, pioneers of both prog and power metal unleashing an album that’s a little bit of both in a world where both genres have long since been cemented.
Between the two styles, Chasing the Hydra certainly leans heavier on the progressive side of the spectrum. In this regard, it almost feels like a spiritual successor to 1988’s Transcendence, on which the songs are less about the steely U.S. bombast displayed on the debut and more about subtle virtuosity and deep, impassioned atmosphere. Songs like “Broken Together”, “Indelible Ashes”, and “Beyond the Unknown” exemplify everything this album is about. Wills boasts a vocal delivery in the vein of Midnight, yet without sounding like a blatant clone, while at times Jackson and Borgmeyer dish out riffs with a bare-knuckle, groove-driven edge, reminiscent of prog-groove masters Nevermore.
Some songs come off more like throwbacks than others (i.e. “Angel in My Nightmare”, the title track), but at no point does it feel like Crimson Glory are aimlessly chasing after past, um, glory. No, they’re doing their darndest to build upon it, carving a new chapter in their lengthy mythos. And while not a single song on this album comes close to the genius of those first two albums (What can?), I do appreciate the collective effort and dedication to breathe new life into a band who, up until a few years ago, were thought to be dead forever. The production is also a tad too modern for my taste, the intricacies of each instrument sometimes blurring together amidst the mix. It’s a shame, because this is a band with a lot going on, and every voice deserves to be heard.
Slightly uneven mix aside, Chasing the Hydra is an album worthy of both the CG name and legacy, coming off as no better or worse than Astronomica, and certainly more conscious of purpose than Strange and Beautiful. Assuming this lineup keeps it together, and considering their upcoming live itinerary, there’s no reason they shouldn’t, I look forward to hearing what they can do on a follow up affair. Until then, if you’re looking to get your prog on, you best do it with these masters as opposed to some faceless Dream Theater clone!
7 out of 10
Label: BraveWords Records
Genre: Progressive Metal
For fans of: Queensrÿche, Savatage, Nevermore
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