ALBUM REVIEW: Crimson Wreath – Illusory

War is divisive. People have vehement opinions on it. Regardless of the viewpoint, no one can deny it’s fuelled some great albums. Heavy metal band ILLUSORY hope to add to the collective with their third album Crimson Wreath.

The Greek sextet follow previous efforts, The Ivory Tower and Polysyllabic, with a hefty 14 song album. Crimson Wreath chronicles the negative cost of war for all involved. Cocooned within that is a personal account of grief. While the album was being recorded, guitarist George Papantonis lost both parents. Before ILLUSORY play a single note, the listener will know this is set to be a lyrical onslaught.

Lead single Besetting Sins pulls from IRON MAIDEN and DIO influences. Energetic drums and chugging melodic riffs set the tone for quintessential metal. Yet Dee Theodorou’s vocals lack the power the song needs. The potential is there but it feels underwhelming. Power finally comes with the second guitar solo. The notes sail through the soundscape as if they came from an AK-47. Had there been a touch more edge, this would have been a hell of an opener.

Throughout the record, the subject matter is haunting. Spoken work track Acedia tells the tale of war warping a person’s mind over an eerie acoustic melody. Diving further into the rabbit hole, ST Forsaken catches a solider unravelled. Though the song is massive in its simplicity, the heaviness is lyrical. Mixing acoustic and electric guitars makes for a muddied mind. A broken soul pleads for freedom from PTSD, a commentary on the lack of support veterans receive.

Hearing stories from those who’ve been on the battlefield is a harrowing experience. The image the titular track paints is devastating. On a bed of dark melodies and haunting piano, the verses read like a regiment singing their goodbyes. One last act of solidarity before going above the parapet. “We’re brave enough to fight but we don’t stand a chance” sticks the listener with the emotional bayonet. This sad realisation triggers a heavy interlude, propelling our infantry toward their doom.

Mortality confronts everyone at least once. While some struggle clearing the hurdle to acceptance, others leap over it with ease. It’s the former party ILLUSORY side with on this record. The weight of the concept proves to be too heavy in places. Immortal No is a solid effort lyrically, yet the instrumental seems to run out of steam. The vision the band had for this record is grand and worthy of many an album to come. The execution of it falls a little shy. There are redeeming factors though. All Shall Fade haunts the listener with ghosts of days gone by. It feels as though the violin bow plays the listener’s heart strings. A beautiful example of less is more, All Shall Fade’s piano melody tugs at already cracking hearts.

Within the death tolls comes the human element of loss. The typhoon of emotions a person gets sucked into after losing a parent is relentless. “I have lost my hope this lonely night” may not encapsulate the indescribable but runs close. Past Forever Last strikes the emotional chord regardless of the listener’s circumstance. The prospect of it alone is daunting. The Isle Of Shadows, about the loss of a mother, immediately feels different. Choral arrangements come as a surprise but this gothic tableau feels right. Rich toned riffs mix with lamenting vocals for sentimental annihilation. The image of the protagonist sat on the coast, shrouded in sweeping guitars is shattering.

As a whole, Crimson Wreath had so much potential to hit as hard as the subject matter. When ILLUSORY hit their pockets of brilliance, there’s no stopping them. They have an ability to create incredible tapestries but being able to maintain that brilliance eludes them. This doesn’t mean Crimson Wreath is a bad record. It’s a step in the right direction for a band who has everything in their arsenal to be great. Greatness comes in time and will be all the sweeter when it does for ILLUSORY.

Rating: 6/10

Crimson Wreath is out now via Rockshots Records.

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