Richard HolmesSatan – Songs In Crimson (Metal Blade)
When Satan reformed in 2011, it’s doubtful they could have realised what was in store. And how successful their new era would be…
Yes, plenty of NWOBHM bands are still treading the boards. But has anyone delivered a multi-album hot streak in the way this quintet have? Has anyone spent the 2010s and 20s genuinely pushing their sound forward, while still remaining true to their roots?
A few have tried.
And of course, Maiden are still packing out arenas.
But creatively, Satan continue to astound… and put both their contemporaries – and many upstart trad metal acts – to shame.
The North Easterners sensational comeback, 2013’s Life Sentence, took the metal world by surprise… and made its way onto many a AOTY list.
2015’s Atom By Atom and 2018’s Cruel Magic built on that record’s thrillride dynamics.
And Satan made jaws drop with 2022’s Earth Infernal, an opus which solidified Satan’s status a bona fide metal masterminds. Just listen to The Blood Ran Deep or Burning Portrait if you want the evidence.
It’s no surprise, then, that you’ll find the band on legendary label Metal Blade, stomping across the States with the likes of Venom Inc., and wowing crowds at numerous Euro fests.
And it’s no surprise to learn that with Songs In Crimson, they’ve brought their A-game once again.
Opener Frantic Zero lives up to its name, with a quickfire delivery reminiscent of The Devil’s Infantry or Legions Hellbound.
Want riffs? You’ve got them by the dozen: Martyrdom and Truth Bullet are bursting with slick fretwork and infectious licks.
Want stratospheric leadwork? Check out the astonishing Captives. And if you are a guitarist, prepare for your eyes to turn green.
However, Songs In Crimson is anything but blood and bluster heavy metal: this is intricate, cerebral music that for all its warm, retro vibes, never quite lets you settle. The results are fascinating. Nothing feels obvious. There are twists and turns everywhere.
Certainly, guitarists Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey weave their proggy influences more deeply into Satan’s work this time: Era (The Day Will Come) is a prime example, with the pair, backed by Graeme English’s bubbling bass, voyaging across the rock cosmos. Tippins’ vocals, dovetailing perfectly with mainman Brian Ross, enhance the track’s astral textures.
But don’t think that Songs In Crimson, isn’t without its anthems. The hard driving Whore Of Babylon and the explosive Turn The Tide – a commentary on British jingoism – kick you straight in the gut. And it helps that Ross, as usual, is on imperious form, proving why he’s revered as one of the UK’s finest metal singers.
Signing off with Deadly Crimson – a song with capitalist greed in its sights – Satan close this opus in some style, blending subtlety and dexterity like only they can.
Perhaps Songs In Crimson is more difficult to digest than its predecessors.
It’s certainly more challenging.
But make no mistake, this is a true feast for the senses… and stands up to anything in Satan’s illustrious canon.
Satan band photo by Stefan Rosic of Conundrum Images.