Saturday, June 28, 2008

CRIMSONFIRE: Crimsonfire


Released: 2005

Crimsonfire seems to be another one of those bands that has existed for years without really getting anywhere or doing anything. If this album is any indication, it isn't hard to see why. Despite having been around since 1998, they aren't a name that's too well known to many metal fans outside of Melbourne. After several years of gigging and songwriting, the band's self-titled debut album appeared without too much fanfare on US retro/melodic metal label Majestic Rock.

Crimsonfire contains ten tracks of European-style melodic power metal along very similar lines to bands like Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius, and as a local alternative to those two groups, one could really ask for none better. Crimsonfire's songs are well-played with a high degree of insidious melodies, and a lyrical obsession with fire, eternity and legendary realms. That ought to stir some level of interest among those who covet such things, but the truth of it is that Crimsonfire is a remarkably faceless offering. Outside of a couple of breathtaking screams from singer Louie Gorgievski, this album has very little in the way of highlights. Even after several listens, not much stands out. The material is on a par with anything the European hordes could come up with but, like many of them, Crimsonfire does very little with it. With a runing time of almost an hour, these should be at least one memorable or noteworthy moment on here, but there really isn't. There simply isn't one single fresh idea among any of the ten songs here.

Crimsonfire is merely a very good bunch of musicians playing incredibly generic music very well, but for a band trying to establish itself in an over-crowded marketplace, that just isn't good enough.


  1. Eternal Days
  2. A New Dawn
  3. Reign in Fire
  4. Morning of the Magicians
  5. The Age of Aquarius
  6. Empire of Fear
  7. Darkside to Sanity
  8. Region of Legends
  9. Tears in a Greystorm
  10. The Rising Sands

Rating: 40%

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