CRIMSON VEIL
Hex

If you like me think that variety is “The Spice Of Life” then please prepare yourself to receive a very heady and mind-altering elixir for your ears with the superb genre busting debut album from UK metal band CRIMSON VEIL.

Fresh and exciting CRIMSON VEIL are not the sort of band that you can really pigeonhole into one genre or another because they are completely different from anything else that you have ever heard before, yet at the same time they are also still able to form an instant connection and bond with the listener. With their debut album “Hex” about to cast a mystical spell across the entire metal world CRIMSON VEIL are just about ready to rip up the rule book on what you think you may or may not know about music!

“Flinch”, “Opulence” and “Joyless” are tracks where beautifully orchestrated string arrangements and angelic vocals are melded seamlessly with blackened death metal to tear at the very fabric of your soul with the ultimate day vs. night battleground playing out before your mind’s eye. The equally stunning “Ribbons” and “Illuminate” have a much more progressive and alternative aura about them, yet the sweet, dreamy and gothic vocals also make them feel warm, comfortable and familiar.

You are never going to get bored listening to “Hex” as every single song offers up something intriguingly different. The title track and “Shift” combine futuristic and gothic melodies with lingering and haunting vocals whereas “Awake” fuse’s dark and doomy themes with symphonic style strings arrangements. The whole album is a complete treasure trove of shinning gems that will keep you completely entertained from start to finish.

Epic undertaking and final track “Task” coming in at over twelve minutes long is simply an exhibition of pure class and worthy of individual mention. It is a jaw droppingly high magnitude demonstration of CRIMSON VEIL‘s capabilities and skillset.

For anyone who just like me really loves modern metal and the blending of many different genres to create something new and different “Hex” is a must-listen-too album and CRIMSON VEIL should be a welcome addition to your playlist if they are not on there already. “Hex” is cutting edge stuff that dabbles right on the fringes of the genre and should appeal to a wide cross section of metal fans as it encompasses a broad range of styles yet at the same time it also delivers something that is completely unique.

CRIMSON VEIL have constantly been on my radar since the first single from “Hex” was released earlier this year and I have absolutely no hesitation in doing anything other than highly recommending this superb debut album to everyone. So when it drops make sure you check it out!!

Mark Waight