Band:	Crushing Blow
Album:	Far Away
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	2003
A review by:	Jeff

01. Prelude
02. Far Away
03. Hate me
04. Humanity
05. Believe
06. Idols
07. Lost Innocence
08. Get Out Of My Way
09. Dark Moon
10. Shadow [Acoustic version]

"Crushing Blow" is a new French band of Heavy Metal. Like a lot of new bands today they chose to have a female singer for their vocals. "Crushing Blow" is not another copy of gothic or symphonic bands this is just a band of Heavy and [for the moment] a girl who sings in that style of music, that's not very common. With this first album "Far Away" this young French band will show first that French know how to do good Heavy but also that girls in metal are certainly a very good and innovative point.

"Crushing Blow" does a good Heavy Metal, sometime symphonic, with powerful guitars riffs and double bass pedal but always melodic. A lot of songs on this album are catchy and give to you a great feeling, a lot of time when you're listening "Crushing Blow" the only thing that you want to do is to do head bangs!
Technically the guys of "Crushing Blow" are good , the two guitars lines are very well done, the guitars solo are more than good, and that's same for the drums and the bass. Then there is the voice of Audrey, it's not perfect, this is not the most beautiful voice that I know, but I don't know why, Audrey rocks? Her powerful voice give a lot of power to "Crushing Blow" and at the end for sure the band has a great vocalist, perfect for that music.

In "Far Away" we will find a lot of good songs, some are very powerful and melodic this is pure Heavy melodic metal, but some others are more calm, like ballads. Believe me in this "Far Away" we have some little jewels like "Lost Innocence" or "Hate Me"? this is well done I just want to see that in live I'm sure that the result could be great?

The production of the album is good too, not the better that I know but well that sound good, and this is very well mixed, for a first album we have a very good work. Another good point for the band.

At the end "Crushing Blow" give to us a very impressive first album, yes there is some defaults [maybe it's not very original and I'm hard when I say that?] but the quality of this album is enough good to show that they could be one of the leaders of the Heavy metal scene in France soon? A lot of hits on "Far Away", good musicians and a charismatic singer, this is the great mix of "Crushing Blow". Believe me or not, we will hear soon of "Crushing Blow".