Who knows why some bands achieve great success while other, more talented, artists only attain cult-like status? It’s a quandary, and one is made all the more puzzling by Crimson Glory. Between 1986 and 1991 they released three albums that changed the face of heavy music and pioneered the whole progressive metal movement. I guess it was easy for a band to get lost in the shuffle in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s (they were up against some stiff competition, after all), yet The Roadrunner Years presents three era-defining albums that demand some reevaluation and will only elevate Crimson Glory’s status in the metal community.

Disc One: Crimson Glory (1986)

That Crimson Glory’s eponymously-titled debut album sounds so good and self assured should come as no surprise. The band had been in existence since the turn of the decade and had used the intervening period to hone their craft, meaning that when they were picked up by indie label Par Records and recorded Crimson Glory, it arrived fully formed. Of course, budget constraints meant that the production is a touch light on the bottom end; the bass and drums don’t so much punch as gently pad, meaning that the listener’s focus is turned towards the guitar and vocals, and that, unwittingly, proved a very wise move. With singer Midnight at the helm delivering operatic vocals this album is given an epic, theatrical feel and no more so than on opener ‘Valhalla’. In fact, this album appears written around Midnight’s ear-piercing scream and he sets the songs alight, giving the choruses a grandiose feel and rendering tracks such as ‘Heart Of Steel’ instantly memorable.

I don’t think it was Crimson Glory’s intention to write a progressive metal album, and that the album sounds as such was largely due to the band’s musical prowess. That means Crimson Glory is a very listenable album; unlike much prog metal that is too clever for its own good and loses the listener in a maze of intricacy, this album has a strong focus on traditional song structure and subsequently both the riffs and solos are very catchy and air guitar inducing. It’s safe to say that there’s not a dull moment on this album and it is patently obvious why this album was picked up by Roadrunner for a European release, and thanks to that association Crimson Glory would (rather amazingly) release an even better album a two years later.

Disc Two: Transcendence (1988)

After convening at Morrisound Studios in Florida (famous for producing countless classic death metal albums), Crimson Glory pulled a rabbit from the hat in the shape of Transcendence. The band pieced together a record that was far cleaner and crisper than it’s predecessor, the rhythm section is now given its proper place in the mix and adds the requisite punch. It means that this effort now sounds like a collaborative affair and the guitars wend their way through opening track ‘Lady Of Winter’ like electrocuted snakes. It is an approach that suits the twin guitar attack very well and they actually sound like a duo now and they create a pairing who could can rival metal’s best; think Murray/Smith and Downing/Tipton, and you’d have something approaching the vitality Crimson Glory display on ‘Masque Of The Red Death’.

As with their debut album, Crimson Glory haven’t forsaken songwriting for the sake of progressive musings; this is first and foremost a metal album and affords plenty of opportunity to get the follicles flying. Yet, it is also very evocative, the lyrics and music conspire to plant vivid images in the mind’s eye with songs such as ‘Where Dragons Rule’ creating a real sense of place and time in a way that only good heavy metal can. ‘Lonely’ received heavy rotation on MTV and like the whole album, it sits easy on the ear. And thanks to that clear production, Transcendence became Crimson Glory’s crowning glory!

Disc Three: Strange And Beautiful (1991)

Maybe it was singing to Atlantic Records (in the States), or maybe it was the prevailing wind that blew grunge our way, or maybe it was new drummer Ravi Jakhotia but something strange was happening in the Crimson Glory camp. For their 1991 album Strange And Beautiful the band had completely overhauled their sound. Gone was the dynamism which characterised their first two albums, only to be replaced by a more groove laden sound that had more in common with bands like Fishbone and Primus. It’s hard to pinpoint what caused this sonic shift, but opening (and title) track must have had fans scratching their heads in exasperation. Gone are the explosive, dualling guitars only to be replaced by funky motifs, whilst the rhythm section sounds totally lumpen and devoid of direction. However, the most baffling part of this album is the subjugation of Midnight’s vocals; this man had a voice that could rival Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford, yet his talents are buried in the mix and he’s served the ultimate injustice by being supplemented by three backing vocalists. They’re totally superfluous (especially on ‘Promise Land’) and suggest that either all wasn’t well in the Crimson Glory camp or external forces were altering their chemistry (and giving credence to this idea is the fact that this was their first album to feature outside composers).

The great irony is that Strange And Beautiful is the band’s best sounding album. In keeping with the funk affectations and three female backing singers, this record sounds lustrous and emits a warm glow. However, that’s not to say Strange And Beautiful is a bad album (it’s not) and the Zeppelin-esque ‘Love And Dreams’ really works, yet it feels as if you have to go looking for the goodness whereas Transcendence kind of stepped up and slapped us in the face with its wares. Strange And Beautiful feels constrained and is just waiting for someone to release the brake.

Maybe it was the misstep Strange And Beautiful, but for some reason Crimson Glory never received due credit for blazing a trail in the world of progressive metal but The Roadrunner Years should go some ways in rectifying that.

• The Roadrunner Years is released via Cherry Red Records on 21st March 2025.

Track List:

Disc One: Crimson Glory

1. Valhalla
2. Dragon Lady
3. Heart Of Steel
4. Azrael
5. Mayday
6. Queen Of The Masquerade
7. Angels Of War
8. Lost Reflection

Bonus Track:

9. Dream Dancer

Disc Two: Transcendence

1. Lady Of Winter
2. Red Sharks
3. Painted Skies
4. Masque Of The Red Death
5. In Dark Places
6. Where Dragons Rule
7. Lonely
8. Burning Bridges
9. Eternal World
10. Transcendence

Bonus Track:

11. Lonely (Remix)

Disc Three: Strange And Beautiful

1. Strange And Beautiful
2. Promise Land
3. Love And Dreams
4. The Chant
5. Dance On Fire
6. Song For Angels
7. In The Mood
8. Starchamber
9. Deep Inside Your Heart
10. Make You Love Me
11. Far Away