Whilst some bands use influences from a couple of decades before to get a ‘vintage’ sound, some push it more. Mark Ronson did it with his extensive usage of horns for that big band//jazz type sound on Version. Similarly enough Pete Doherty had a similar approach with his debut solo album where some songs sounded as if they were taken from a British war time era sitcom. Crippled Black Phoenix are a band however that take it that one step further, or backwards if you want to look at it in that way. For those who don’t know, Crippled Black Phoenix is a band that takes a mixture of influences together. Interestingly enough, they’ve been known for their use of Victorian instrumentation and sound mixing it with the progressive, folk and metal elements of their music. As their name suggests they’re taking up an old forgotten medium and raising it from the ashes.
Opener ‘Troublemaker’ begins with a rather chilling narrative. The best way to describe this is like a storm. At first it thunders down heavily upon you with its thick, doom metal like guitars before moving into the calmer, progressive and ambient elements.
The classical like pianos of ‘We Forgotten Who We Are’ and the more moving, captivating and deep slightly folk tinged ‘Bastogne Blues’ are totally different affairs. They move from the heavier, more in your face sides of the band to a much more euphoric state. It feels like you’re in a strange new world with these tracks.
Crippled Black Phoenix manages to mix up so many elements without going to overboard. Yes, there’s a whole lot in there but they manage to keep it all simple and strong without over spilling.
