Edge of Sanity - Crimson II

[Cyprien]

Thought I'd post a review of this album that no one will have ever heard of. Crimson II (2003) is the sequel to the epic Crimson, released by Edge of Sanity in 1995. Like Crimson, Crimson II is an album made up entirely of one song that spans 43 minutes. Unlike Crimson, Crimson II is written and performed entirely by one person, Dan Swano under the Edge of Sanity name. He plays all the rhythm guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, and does all the vocals, both clean and dirty. And he does a pretty good job. After hearing Crimson in its entirety, I went ahead and ordered Crimson II directly from Sweden. It's probably the only way you can get a copy.

So what's the music like?

In short, progressive death metal from Sweden. It has the twin guitar leads made famous by bands from the school of Swedish Gothenburg metal. It has the keyboard lacings that are the hallmark of modern Finnish metal. It even has the chaotic high speed tremolo picking found in Norwegian black metal. And yes there is the growling that is unmistakably death metal. This is probably the album that best portrays the enormous metal scene in Scandinavia. The best thing about this album is it will appeal to anyone who has even the slightest interest in more complex music. Sure it's a 43 minute song, but you won't even notice because there are no boring parts. At some stage you'll probably even wonder if this is really death metal. Give it a spin sometime.

[dragonorchid]

Sounds like something I might have to check out one day :-)

[IC1Bass]

*surprised* another Edge of Sanity fan!!!!

So far in my collection sits Crimson, Crimson II, Cryptic, and Purgatory Afterglow.

I don't think Crimson II is anywhere as good as Crimson, but considering Crimson II is almost all Dan Swano's work hes done a bloody good job.

Have you heard any of Dan Swano's solo work? Thats all really good stuff with lots of old school synth.
Nightingale (his current band, I think?) is good nice rock if you get a chance to have a listen.
He was/is? in Bloodbath too if your into your angry death metal! Bloodbath is alot less melodic and Edge of Sanity but still some rad heavy as hell riffs.

Edit: I managed to get all my EOS albums from Real Groovy, didn't have to order or anything, that was in Wellington though

[Cyprien]

Dan Swano


He's still in Bloodbath, and their new album is very good. Yeah I've heard Swano's solo stuff, but I prefer his death metal material. Nobody does death metal quite like Swano. LOL Nightingale I have yet to check out. I probably should!

[IC1Bass]

Hes such a god! I think hes got more than his fair share of talent!

Oh cool, yea I havn't heard their new album.
If you like Swano's death metal then don't check out Nightingale no growling just clean vox. That said hes got an interesting but very nice clean vocal sound.

[Cyprien]

If the vox are like Crimson II, I'd check it out. He's getting better every album, just like Mikael Akerfeldt.

[IC1Bass]

Yea Mikael Akerfeldt is another amazing musician. I think Swano worked with Opeth on one of their albums.
I went looking in the Real Groovy in Welly when I was down there for some of the other EOS albums but didn't find any  

[Cyprien]

Swano produced (I think) Morningrise and Orchid. Real Groovy will do special orders - otherwise just shop at Black Mark online like I did for the Crimson albums.

Hey I hear they are filming this year's Wacken Open Air festival with Bloodbath's one (and probably only) show with Akerfeld on lead vox. They may release it on DVD. As much as I like Peter Tagtgren, no one does nut-shaking death vox quite like Mikael, or Swano for that matter.

[Cyprien]

Mi(helle, how bout we do a swap - my In Flames CD, for a CD rip of Crimson II?

If you liked In Flames, this one will blow you away.

[Warlock]

Your bargining for your own cd back?  

[Cyprien]

Your bargining for your own cd back?  

I can only try.
 

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