ALBUM REVIEW: Ellengæst – Crippled Black Phoenix

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX is the longstanding project of multi-instrumentalist Justin Greaves, whose pedigree in heavy music is hard to understate. He first appeared as the drummer of crossover-thrash act HARD TO SWALLOW, before joining revered sludge agitators IRON MONKEY. Thereafter Greaves would appear ephemerally in BORKNAGAR, TEETH OF LIONS RULE THE DIVINE and ELECTRIC WIZARD, before forming CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX in 2004.

The project is as notable for its prolific output, and constant carousel of personnel, as it is for its musical innovation. Across seven studio albums, a handful of EPs, and countless official bootlegs, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX has featured the talents of Dominic Aitchison of MOGWAI and Niall Hone of HAWKWIND among innumerable others. In the process Greaves has navigated the band into experimental territories, and traversed post-rock’s expansive possibilities.

In many ways, the band’s name has never seemed more appropriate. Blighted by the sudden departure of their second long-term male vocalist and guitarist Daniel Änghede, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX have once again risen to the occasion, and – drawing upon Greaves’ extensive network of collaborators and friends – produced the successor to 2018’s celebrated Great Escape.

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX plays ‘endtime ballads’, and although they have often deviated from this self-description, they return to it with extraordinary focus on Ellengæst. Translatable as both ‘strong spirit’ and ‘mischievous demon’, Ellengæst connotes the band’s fortitude, as well as their eccentricity. Opening pair House Of Fools and lead-single Lost feature Vincent Cavanagh of ANATHEMA alongside Belinda Kordic, and the two make an exceptional vocal pair. Aided and abetted by Helen Stanley on the trumpet, as well as some tastefully sampled audio, the album makes a powerful first impression. Proceedings slow down with In The Night: the epitome of a gothic duet, performed by Kordic and Kristian ‘Gaahl’ Espedal in spoken-word mode, this is perhaps as conventional as CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX will ever sound – but it’s beautiful in its simplicity.

The baton is passed to Ryan Patterson and Suzie Stapleton for second single Cry Of Love, which takes the gothic mood into rock territory; reminiscent of PARADISE LOST at their catchiest, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX demonstrate their radio-friendly potential with a fantastic chorus here. Everything I Say showcases Kordic’s remarkable tone atop the true ballad of the album, which accelerates towards the calibre of post-rock crescendo which the project is built on. Sprawling swansong The Invisible Past, headed by Jonathan Hultén, draws Ellengæst to a wistful conclusion with flair. A cover of BAUHAUS’ She’s In Parties slightly spoils the effect, as spirited a reimagining as it is.

With Ellengæst, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX have mustered a collection of eclectic gothic rock songs, performed and produced with the band’s characteristic quality. Experimental and progressive flourishes have been toned down, but are not entirely absent, and a host of guest vocalists keeps things interesting along the way. Ellengæst serves as an accessible entry-point to the well-established project: a great opportunity to get to know one of heavy music’s lesser-known gems.

Rating: 8/10

Ellengæst is out now via Season of Mist.

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