Review CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX “Sceaduhelm”

Since their foundation in 2004, Crippled Black Phoenix have been known for delivering musical curveballs, and the same goes for their latest studio album, ”Sceaduhelm”. Justin Greaves and his bandmates present a new musical challenge that won’t reveal all its secrets on the first listen.

The album contains 12 emotional and intense songs. Unlike previous releases, “Sceaduhelm” focuses on inner experiences rather than external circumstances. This time, the album takes listeners on an intense inward journey. With narrative elements and samples, the intensity of the songs and the album as a whole increases dramatically, while the music remains the focus.

“One Man Wall of Death” marks the beginning of this remarkable journey. It explores states of fatigue, emotional decay, and the weight of survival. “One Man Wall of Death” relies mainly on narrative elements, with the song slowly increasing in heaviness. There is an intense rhythm that builds and builds, like a heartbeat rising constantly before bursting out towards the end of this heavyweight track.

The album features a variety of vocalists, with the opener relying more on samples. However, it is Belinda Kordic who lends her voice to “Ravenettes”.On the album in general she shares vocal duties with Ryan Patterson and Justin Storms. Each of them wrote lyrics for their own songs, and the result is a versatile, dark album with a fascinating array of layers and facets.

Songs such as “Ravenettes” and, even more so, “Vampire Graves” have a gothic vibe and unveil a gloomy captivity.

The melancholic “No Epitaph – The Precipice”, with its emotion-laden vocals by Ryan Patterson, is a highlight of the album. It is the emotive pinnacle of the album. Drowning in sadness, this goosebump-giving tune has a small ray of light running through it.

The atmospheric song “The Void” represents another aspect of the album, as does the heavy-hearted “Under the Eye”. Grief and fatigue are the themes of “Tired to the Bone”, a song that encapsulates the weight of the world in just four and a half minutes.

“Sceaduhelm” offers a dark and poignant reflection on human imperfection. It is an emotional rollercoaster with a downward spiral. This album pushes dark clouds in front of the warming spring sun and leads you to the dark depths of the human soul.