The run of impressive new albums from original New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands this year rolls on and on with the release of Songs in Crimson by Satan, just a few days after the self-titled album by Blitzkrieg.
The connection between the two bands being vocalist Brian Ross who appears on both albums putting in lung-busting performances.
The line-up here on Songs in Crimson is basically the original from the 1980s. Joining Ross are guitarists Steve Ramsey and Russ Tippins with Graeme English on bass and drummer Sean Taylor.
Back in the ‘80s Satan issued the NWOBHM classic of Court in the Act in 1983 followed by Suspended Sentence in 1987 though would issue albums under different names such as Pariah and Blind Fury.
A long period of inactivity saw a Satan reformation around 2010 I think it was and the release of Life Sentence in 2013. Since then three further albums have appeared and now in September 2024 we have Songs in Crimson.
It is an album of consistently fast-paced hard hitting heaviness which whilst quite relentless has some catchy melody built in to the chorus sections. A retro-modern throwback to the NWOBHM days with more than enough speed and power to satisfy any hard rock/heavy metal fan.
Riffs spit, cut and slash relentlessly as do the frantic solos. Energetic drumming and a throbbing bass add to the power as do Ross’ vocals. The muddy production isn’t the cleanest. Perhaps that was deliberate as it adds some authenticity to the doomy undercurrent in the music and raw feel.
Frantic Zero is indeed frantic. Makes you sit up and take notice. Era is another steamroller of aural assault and battery.
Sacramental Rites gets a bit dark with a monster chorus and Turn the Tide comes in hot and frantic with screaming guitars all over it. Check out the video:
The shorting, punchy Captives takes no prisoners and the closer of Deadly Crimson is a stonking finish.
Satan don’t muck about here. Each of the ten songs are around three and a half to four and a half minutes meaning the three quarters of an hour running time is concise and tight without any noodling away for the sake of it.
Coming so soon after the excellent self-titled album from Blitzkrieg, with Songs in Crimson Satan show they are yet another “legacy” New Wave of British Heavy Metal band who retain their chops in quite some style.
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