Alive in keeping their adventurous brand of traditional heavy metal on course 44 years beyond their inception (with a 20 year ‘lunch break’ in some periods), Satan continually possess tunnel vision in where they want to go album by album. Songs in Crimson, the seventh studio record and third with Metal Blade, pushes a tighter, focused sound where no song passes five minutes, packed to the gills in riffs, progressive transitions, mystical melodies, and tremendous resolve to further the love of the genre while triggering any semblance of computerized, digital-oriented tricks off the map.
What this means as a listener is an ideal, off the floor sonic experience – even when haunting vocal harmonies creep into a Mercyful Fate-ish cut like “Era (The Day Will Come)” beyond the soaring highs ever present in the reliable Brian Ross delivery. The tandem guitar lines of Steve Ramsey and Russ Tippins present a multitude of fascinating riffs, counterpoint accents, or energetic lead breaks that point to numerous 70s reference points – a la Yes, King Crimson all the way through to early Judas Priest on winning tracks such as “Whore of Babylon” and “Curse in Disguise”. Themes from anti-capitalism, the pandemic lockdown, personal loss, and historical fare also factor into the mix, providing listeners topics that relate hand in hand to the musical atmosphere put forth. Bassist Graeme English also gets a bit more uplifting spotlight to journey around these compositions with progressive flair as the natural snare / tom sounds from drummer Sean Taylor has a clear, crisp snappiness that never sound overly processed – the heads down anthem “Truth Bullet” one of many highlights in this regard to their seasoned craft at their respective instruments. Each song possesses four to six distant parts that weave themselves into this roller coaster mix of power, progression, and prestige – never wavering in circular hooks from either the vocal or musical side to align those catchy elements necessary for solid, long-term retention in your brain.
Celebrate Satan once again through Songs in Crimson – a testament to a style that always seems vibrant even in 2024. When in the hands, hearts, and minds of the best musicians, the cream rises to the top – another record that keeps the passion for this movement enduring, whether you are a teenager all the way to your golden years.