Crippled Black Phoenix continues to push the boundaries.
Still signed to Season of Mist, Justin Greaves, alongside bandmates Belinda Kordic (vocals), Ryan Patterson (vocals), Justin Storms (vocals), Wes Wasley (bass), Lucy Marshall (keyboards), Rene Misje (guitar), Andy Taylor (guitar), and Iver Sandøy (drums), Robin Tow (drums), announces the release of the band’s thirteenth album, Sceaduhelm.
The album opens with the strange sample of One Man Wall of Death, quickly joined by the mysterious sounds we’ve been waiting to hear reborn, and then it’s ultimately the haunting laughter that sets the stage ablaze, revealing an impressive and intoxicating Post-Metal approach. The mix eventually fades out and transitions into the intriguing Ravenettes, where the musicians give free rein to their infectious and captivating madness, with Belinda’s voice bringing that palpable energy that shifts from a gentle lightness to far more intense moments before transitioning to a much more stripped-down sound for the introduction to Things Start Falling Apart. This time it’s Justin who takes the mic, bringing his haunting, melancholic touch to a gripping Post-Rock-inspired instrumental that builds to a climax before giving way to No Epitaph – The Precipice, where Ryan’s deep voice captivates us as the instrumental slowly unfolds. The track almost feels like a ballad—desperate at first, then gradually regaining its strength, even completely transforming its identity for the final instrumental section, which leads into The Void, where a welcome moment of suspension awaits us. Ethereal effects and distortion blend to give rise to a sampled voice, followed by strange keyboards that hasten its end, then the arrival of Hollows End” where we find the imposing yet ever-unpredictable sounds paired with that enchanting voice and its somber echoes. We move on to the unsettling opening of Dropout, which leads us through a series of sounds, each more unexpected and drawn-out than the last, with the vocals serving as the sole anchor as they skillfully wind their way to Vampire Grave, which begins with a new sample, somewhere between vocals and ambient noise. The track draws its atmosphere from Post-Punk but retains its creative freedom, sprinkling in dissonance and intricate passages here and there, as well as that final burst of excitement before giving way to Colder and Colder, which regains a certain ethereal softness at times. Here again, there are a few unsettling sounds, but the track is still quite accessible, almost welcoming, unlike Under the Eye, which strikes me as much darker and almost sends a chill down your spine despite its apparent gentleness. The track eventually captivates us with its rather cryptic lyrics, then ??Tired to the Bone brings us that comforting sonic gloom, like a cursed lullaby that hypnotizes us only to release us into Beautiful Destroyer, the final track, which returns to a more abrasive, saturated sound and, despite its length, remains captivating, alternating between cold and unifying elements to leave a lasting impression.
As free-spirited and creative as ever, Crippled Black Phoenix delivers an hour of sonic experimentation on Sceaduhelm, weaving a tapestry as complex as it is meticulously crafted, shifting from one extreme to the next with three voices that are as distinct as they are complementary. The album is a true triumph.
85/100