Crimson Moonlight

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Crimson Moonlight
Origin Jönköping, Sweden
Genre(s) Blackened death metal[1]
Unblack metal
Years active 1997 – present
Label(s) Endtime Productions (2006 - Present)
Rivel Records (2003 - 2006)
Associated acts Sanctifica
Website crimsonmoonlight.com
Members
Simon "Pilgrim Bestiarius" Rosén
Per Sundberg
Gustav "Gurra" Elowsson
Johan Ylenstrand
Joakim "Jocke" Malmborg

Crimson Moonlight is a Swedish death/black metal[2] band which was formed in the summer of 1997 with the mere intention of recording a primitive old school black metal demo and playing one show before breaking up. However, the break up never happened, and they have since recorded two EPs and two full length albums.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Beginning

Crimson Moonlight was formed by Simon Rosén (vocals), Gustav Elowsson (drums), Petter Stenmarker (guitar, keyboards), Jonathan Jansson (guitar), and Simon Lindh (bass) in the summer of 1997. They recorded a demo called Glorification of the Master of Light. Originally, their intention was to split the band after recording that demo, but they decided to carry on. In the year 1998, they recorded their first studio EP titled Eternal Emperor, which presented a more keyboard-driven symphonic unblack metal style, in contrast to the more primitive, Horde-inspired music found on their demo.[3] In 1998, Crimson Moonlight released a live album titled Live in Varsås, and in 2001 released their second demo titled Heralding the Dawn.

[edit] Rivel Records Era

A few years later, Crimson Moonlight signed a record deal with Rivel Records, a small Swedish label held by Christian Rivel. During that time, Jonathan Jansson and Simon Lindh left the band. Hubertus Liljegren, formerly of the then-split-up group Sanctifica, along with Per Sundberg, joined Crimson Moonlight as guitarists. In 2003, Crimson Moonlight recorded their first studio album titled The Covenant Progress. Musically, the album took a more melodic unblack metal direction with less emphasis on symphonic keyboards. The album received positive reviews[4] from metal music media, and by 2005 it had sold 3500 copies. During 2003, Crimson Moonlight played several tours around Europe to support The Covenant Progress.

In 2004, Crimson Moonlight recorded their second album titled Veil of Remembrance. The album showcased several changes in the band's style: they left keyboards in order to achieve a far more brutal sound, and went to incorporate grindcore and brutal death metal influences into their sound, inspired by groups such as Nile, Origin, Rotten Sound, and Nasum. During the studio sessions, Jani Stefanivic (of Divinefire, Renascent, and many other band's fame) was in Crimson Moonlight's line-up and had a notable role in creating their new style, now called death/unblack metal. Just like its predecessor, Veil of Remembrance was officially released on January 26, 2005 although it was already available since December 4, 2004. The album received positive reviews[4][2] like it's predecessor, but ended up selling less copies than The Covenant Progress. They toured Europe again to support the album.[5] At the end of 2004, they also released a compilation album titled Songs from the Archives, which included the Eternal Emperor EP, tracks from both albums, demo tracks, and live recordings.[1]

Following this, the band went through some line-up changes. Both Hubertus Liljegren and Jani Stefanovic left, as did Erik Tordsson. Johan Ylenstrand joined as a bassist. Ylenstrand and Elowsson also play in a deathgrind band called Exhale, which has released one album and played at a US death metal festival called Maryland Deathfest. In 2006, Elowsson received endorsements of the drumming gear companies Sabian, Pearl, Remo, and Vic Firth.[6]

[edit] Record Deal with Endtime Productions

In 2006, Crimson Moonlight's deal with Rivel Records had come to an end and the band began searching for new label. On June 17, 2006, the Swedish extreme metal label Endtime Productions announced that they signed Crimson Moonlight. Crimson Moonlight had recorded an EP in profound secrecy.[7] During the summer, Crimson Moonlight played their first tour in the United States and sold the pre-release pressings of their new recording, which was entitled In Depths of Dreams Unconscious. It featured two new songs and a re-recording of a song from their first demo. Musically, the EP continued on their death/black metal direction with a more melodic setting. The official release also contained an instrumental intro done by Swedish neoclassical group Arcana. In Depths of Dreams Unconscious was officially released February 1, 2007, although in reality, it was available a few month later since the cover art went through numerous printing issues. In the summer of 2007, Crimson Moonlight played at the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois for the second time since 2006.

[edit] Style

On their first demo, EP and album, Crimson Moonlight showcased strong influences from melodic black metal. From The Covenant Progress onward, the musical style has been increasingly progressive. Influences from death metal and progressive metal have changed the style in a way that the band's music does not clearly into the black metal label. The tempo in the band's music ranges from fast to slow, occasionally including atonal melodies. The vocals are guttural screaming and growling, mostly unmelodic and unrhythmic. From Veil of Remembrance to forward the band has not used keyboards in their music, and the style is particularly guitar-driven.[8]

Crimson Moonlight's lyrics deal with Christian topics, often Biblical imagery, metaphors and symbolism. The texts also feature spiritual visions. For example, the band's name, "Crimson Moonlight" means the moon turning bloodred, a divine pre-apocalyptic vision predicted in the Bible's Old Testament in the Book of Joel 3:4. The topics emphasize on apocalyptical End Times and spiritual warfare. The themes are typically melded with poetic imagery of the Scandinavian nature and wintry landscapes.[8]

In live shows, Crimson Moonlight uses martial Viking imagery. The vocalist Simon Rosén is generally armed with a medieval sword and sometimes a Viking mask. During the concerts the band members' faces and clothes are usually covered with fake blood, and use that performance to make references to The Last Supper.[8]

[edit] Reception

Crimson Moonlight's critical reception has been overtly positive: For example, the biggest Finnish metal music website Imperiumi.net credits the band for "playing black metal better than most of their anti-Christian colleques."[9] The same reviewer writes that the debut album "The Covenant Progress may not be a masterpiece but it is still damn good melodic black metal." The biggest metal magazine in Sweden described Veil of Remembrance as: "Great played black metal, grinding forth in a furious speed and eagerness& If the word intelligent ever can be used in the genre, this is a perfect example."[10] The Metal Observer gave the album 9/10 and wrote that Crimson Moonlight is "on the verge of mastering this Black/Death hybrid style they’re peddling."[11] However, both The Covenant Progress and Veil of Remembrance have received criticism for their "numbing" or "monotonous" soundscapes.[12]

Currently Crimson Moonlight is one of the leading groups in the Christian black metal movement. As evidense of that, in March 13, 2008, Blabbermouth.net reported that Crimson Moonlight, together with groups such as Admonish, and Frosthardr will be featured on a documentary film on Christian black metal entitled Light in Darkness - Nemesis Divina which is currently in production and is set to be out by Summer 2008. The documentary working crew includes recent Mayhem documentary producer Stefan Rydehed and David Nilsson, who will focus particularly on the Scandinavian Christian scene and the aforementioned groups.[13]

[edit] Current line-up

  • Simon "Pilgrim" Rosen - Vocals (1997—Present)
  • Per Sundberg - Guitars (?—Present)
  • Gustav Elowsson - Drums (1997—Present)
  • Nicholas Barker - Session Drummer
  • Johan Ylenstrand - Bass (?—Present)
  • Joakim Malmborg - Guitars (2006—Present)

[edit] Former members

  • Hubertus Liljegren - Guitars/Bass
  • Samuel Lundberg - Guitars (2000?)
  • David Sieving - Bass (1999?—?)
  • Petter Stenmarker - Guitars/Keyboards (1997—200?)
  • Erik Tordsson - Bass/Guitars
  • Jani Stefanovic - Guitars
  • Jonas Arvidsson - Guitars
  • Jonathan Jansson - Guitars (1997—2000)
  • Simon Lindh - Bass (1997—1999?)

[edit] Discography

Glorification of the Master of Light

  • Released: 1997
  • Format: CD/Cassette
  • Label: Independent

Eternal Emperor

  • Released: 1998
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

The Covenant Progress

  • Released: 2003
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Rivel Records
  • Producer: Tomas Johansson

Songs from the Archives

  • Released: 2003
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Rivel Records

Veil of Remembrance

  • Released: 2004
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Rivel Records

In Depths of Dreams Unconscious

[edit] Other releases

Heralding the Dawn

  • Released: 2001
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

Live in Värsås

  • Released: 1998
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Jordan, Jason (2005). Crimson Moonlight at Their Most Brutal. Ultimate Metal webzine. Open Publishing. Retrieved on 2007-07-29. Interview with Crimson Moonlight
  2. ^ a b Jordan, Jason (2005-02-04). Crimson Moonlight - Veil of Remembrance. The Metal Observer. Open Publishing. Retrieved on 2007-07-29.
  3. ^ Slovaev, Arthur (1998). Crimson Moonlight. Vae solis, a Russian metal music webzine. Open Publishing. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. Interview with now-former guitarist Petter Stenmarker
  4. ^ a b Crimson Moonlight Reviews. Rivel Records, Review links. Open Publishing (2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  5. ^ Wayfaerer (2005-04-30). Crimson Moonlight Interview. Harm Magazine. Open Publishing. Retrieved on 2005-02-24.
  6. ^ Crimson Moonlight. Crimsonmoonlight.com. Open Publishing (2006-04-30). Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  7. ^ Durling, Samuel (2006-06-17). Endtime Productions Proudly Announce. Endtime Productions. Open Publishing. Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
  8. ^ a b c Gerber, Daniel (15.06.2005). Simon Rosèn: «Genau so ist das Leben gedacht!» (German). Retrieved on 2008-02-46.
  9. ^ Ylitalo, Lauri (15.06.2005). Crimson Moonlight - The Covenant (Finnish). Retrieved on 2008-02-46.
  10. ^ Wayfaerer (2005-04-30). Crimson Moonlight Interview. Harm Magazine. Open Publishing. Retrieved on 2005-02-24.
  11. ^ Jordan, Jason. The Metal Observer, February 4, 2006
  12. ^ Imperiumi.net
  13. ^ New Black Metal Documentary In Production: 'Light In Darkness - Nemesis Divina'. Blabbermouth. Roadrunner Records (2008-03-13). Retrieved on 2008-03-13.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Crimson Moonlight
Simon "Pilgrim" Rosén · Per Sundberg · Gustav Elowsson · Nicholas Barker · Johan Ylenstrand · Joakim Malmborg
Hubertus Liljegren · Samuel Lundberg · David Seiving · Petter Stenmarker · Erik Tordsson · Jani Stefanovic · Jonas Arvidsson · Jonathan Jansson · Simon Lindh
Discography
Albums
EPs
Other
Glorification of the Master of Light · Live in Värsås · Heralding the Dawn · Songs from the Archives
Labels