Crimson Shadows aren't exactly doing anything brand-new here, but they're just doing it damn well. Take the more extreme moments of Victory Songs era Ensiferum, maybe a dose of Amon Amarth, then pair it up with the oh-so-catchy melodies from DragonForce...
...If you've just read the word "DragonForce" and you haven't hastily returned to your
Much like DragonForce, unfortunately, Crimson Shadows falls into pits of seemingly never-ending guitar solos, which they try to dig themselves out of with more solos. Guitar geeks out there might eat that shit up, but for the rest of us slobs, it's just wanking. Songs like "Braving The Storm" and "Moonlite Skies and Bloody Tides" really don't need to be six-minutes-plus a piece, but they're extended to "epic" length through aimless, albeit skillful guitar solos. The upside is that these tracks are quarantined, as if they're saying "You assholes like guitar solos? Well, now it's time to masturbate along with us!" Crimson Shadows are bestest when they're tightest.
If you like your power metal albums capable of actually tearing shit up, Give Kings Among Men a shot.[/
