| CD REVIEW Crimson Falls |
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Band: Crimson Falls Based in Dessel (home to the now legendary Graspop Metal Meeting) near Antwerp, Crimson Falls is considered one of the longer running bands in the Belgian Extreme Metal scene. The oldest traces of the band go to Spring 2002, when guitarists Kristof Damen and Ringo Van Dingenen started practicing with drummer Sigi (the first had played with Hardcore acts Unbound NC and Amain; the latter two had played in Outrage and Reller). This trio (which remains the core of the band to date) composed the band’s first music while looking out for a suitable singer and bassist…which were found during October of the formation year with (respectively) Filip Van Damme and Maarten Van Houdt. The formation had its first gigs in April/ May of 2003, and it’s during these that it became evident that the singer was not really comfortable with the Melodic Death Metal direction the others were gearing towards. So the singer went his own way, and CF returned to the rehearsal room to write new songs…and it would take the band a long 8 months to find former Legion singer Wim Jacobs willing to become their new frontman! This new incarnation of the band eventually threw itself on the live circuit starting August 2004, at the same time readying themselves to record their debut EP Ruins 2K5 (self-released in May 2005), featuring 5 tracks best described as a blend of Metalcore and Melodic Swedish Death Metal. It immediately got fans from both genres into CF, and both national and international press gave the EP raving reviews. As a result, the band gets a deal with Shiver Records, and one track off the EP gets put on the 2-disc Face Your Underground III compilation (other featured bands including Aborted, Agathocles, In-Quest, Enthroned, Fleshmould, Outcast, LengTch’E, Iconoclasm…). Temporary troubles arise in early 2006 when the bassist quits, but this doesn’t deter the band from continuing to play with Kristof Taveirne (Spoil Engine, Regression) acting as temporary replacement…and making steps to record their official debut, the full-length The True Face Of Human Nature with producer Kurt Belaen at the now infamous CCR studios (having also hosted the likes of Aborted, In-Quest, Betzefer, Liar, Leng Tch’E). Bass was done by Sven Janssens (Battalion, Disown, Unleash the Fury, Aborted, Axamenta). Vocal guest apppearances were done by Aborted’s Svencho (whom also handled the artwork) and No Recess’ XCaroX (on different tracks), and the album was released in December 2006. But even before that, the band contributed the exclusive song “Water Mirrors Sorrow” to the Face Your Underground IV compilation…and found a permanent new bassist in Tom “Nijn” Trancez (of I Witness and Serial Butcher repute) during September! Obviously, the band supported the release (which was warmly received by fans and media alike) with plenty of live shows (including much appreciated appearances at Groezrock and Graspop during 2007). Now even at the time of recording the TTFOHN album, the boys had felt the need to do something special around the songs “In Flanders Fields” and “We Are The Dead”, finding the lyrics to those songs somewhat striking. So, with the help of Bruges based author Herwig Verleyen, they made a translation of the first track and even recorded it at the same time of the TTFOHN album…even finding the In Flanders Fields museum at Ypres to be interested in supporting the project as well (to them it seemed like a perfect way to bring the First World War theme to a younger public). However, back then the band lacked both time and means to complete the project…but with the recordings (at CCR and again with Kurt Balaen…actually Nijn recorded his part at the home studio of Aborted’s Sven Janssens) for the upcoming album starting in September 2008, the lingering though came to fruition. As fans were still going to have to wait a while before the release of the new full-length, CF decided to self-release the The Dead EP, containing not only the three aforementioned songs, but also a preview of the new album with an early version of the song “Cordoba” (there was even talks about possibly putting on a 5th song, buut I have no data confirming that), issuing the EP on a private basis towards the end of November of last year! So, now it’s time to talk music, which is really not that difficult, as I’m gonna use the band’s own words to start with: “Crimson Falls blends a wide range of influences into an intense, passionate and crushing unity of Death Metal, Metalcore, and Thrash Metal. Expect fast and aggressive riffs, brutal mosh breakdowns, blistering blasts, complex rhythms and melancholic melodies. Influences include the mighty At The Gates, All Shall Perish, Lamb Of God, Heaven Shall Burn, Behemoth, In-Quest, Meshuggah, Nevermore & Aborted…to name but a few…”! Still, CF has a face quite its own, so don’t expect a simple copy of any of the aforementioned bands. In fact, you’ll find CF has been likened to an “…Aborted on Mosh, mega-dirty US Death with a fat sound…” (Metalspheres fanzine – Germany), been claimed “…equal to US genre mates All Shall Perish and old Lamb Of God…” (Rock Tribune magazine – Belgium), and lauded as “…Death Thrash for the new generation…” (Metal Norge – Norway). Praising critics, and I totally agree! The guitarists have certainly come to a place where they are prolific enough to combine ultra-fat deep sounds with a degree of technicallity which occasionally borders MathCore! The singer growls/ screams/ whispers his way through the lyrics (which CF proclaims to contain “…a positive message of freedom, self-confidence and following your dreams…while some songs put the finger on the pulse of our modern society and its excesses…”. If you’re into bombastic yet melodic Death Metal with a Hardcore touch, you simply nééd to get a whiff of CF music, so surf on over to myspace.com/crimsonfalls, where the boys posted the 3 album first songs off the new album alongside 2 tracks off the debut album and one off the 2005 EP…and look out for Crimson Falls playing at a venue near you soon (check the band’s MySpace page for details)! Expect the band to be featured on a new Face Your Underground compilation (which might actually have appeared ahead of this new CF album!). For good measure, I’ll let you know that the only guest appearance on thís album comes from Bart Rafflesia, singing on “Cordoba” (nót one of the songs posted, I’m afraid). In my personal book, this band gets top scores and a nominnation into my year-lists! You can be sure to find me ordering my copy of the band’s debut album come next time I’m in town! 98/100 Tony. |