Crippled Black Phoenix: When Nature Turns The Tables

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX have been writing self-proclaimed “endtime ballads” since 2004. Over the last eighteen years the band, which started as the pseudonym of Justin Greaves, has had many evolutions over their career. With a diverse and captivating discography behind them, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX are masters of observation and asking the questions we don’t dare ask ourselves. Banefyre carries on this illustrious and twisted musical odyssey, once again highlighting the persecution of those who are different. Whilst the album has decidedly negative and pessimistic tone, but a glimmer of hope and joy remains, as the pandemic revealed nature’s true beauty and shifted perceptions as to how we are part of it and not above it.

Banefyre especially tackles the abuse of the natural world, when asking what draws the band to these themes Greaves states, “we don’t like bullies, we find lots of injustice around. I mean, we’re not like a political band or anything but, everyone has a conscience, we’re all humans, and you’re allowed to speak up about stuff. But there is a little bit of a platform, especially when it comes to animal abuse because they can’t, they can’t speak for themselves.”

This lead on to the topic of the album’s creepy, twisted artwork that adorns the album’s cover and was created by Lucy Marshall. “We gave her the overall kind of vibe for the album, with a bunch of lyrics and a bunch of other ideas. That’s what she came up with what she obviously we love, as we love playing on words and things like that. There’s that twisted imagery, I always say to people, it’s like giving kids sweets were razor blades in the middle. It looks like a children’s illustration, but when you delve into it, there’s some horror and dark humour.” Given the album’s core ideal is about nature turning the tables on mankind, it is a piece of artwork that captures the album and it’s concepts beautifully whilst sending a chill down your spine.

Opening the album is Incantation For The Different, written by Chicago-based witch, artist, author and occultist Shane Bugbee. A genuine incarnation that will make you feel an energy that for many is contradictorily positive and dark. When discussing the incantation itself, Greaves explains, “we gave Shane the lyrics to Wyches And Basterdz, (a song about 15th-18th century witch trials), and that’s the vibe he got from it. We have had some comments about how the intro is cheesy but we wanted to have it at the start of the album as it is all about turning the tables and witchcraft is no joke.”

Banefyre as an album has a more ominous tone compared to some of CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s earlier work. Reflecting a moment in time which is seemingly a never ending stream of doom and gloom. Banefyre is a product of the band’s environment over the last three years, as Greaves explains. “Each album, I think it’s like having crappy tattoos. They are representative of moment in your life, and it’s the same songs and albums. You make music that reflects however you feel at the time. We’re not really in charge of that, with everything that is going on around you that dictates how the music will come out. We just try and control it and make sense of it and make something creative out of it.” This also elude to the cinematic feel of the album, as vocalist/percussionist Belinda Kordic says, “I think this album is more digital. Like you see things when you listen to songs.”

Ghostland is a particularly vivid song that captures the essence of purgatory as the Swedish chanting repeats in the most haunting way throughout the song, Kordic explains. “It’s saying the same thing, forever we wonder without any sense of purpose, it’s like a punishment.” Another song that brings out the ominousness of the album is I’m OK, Just Not Alright, a chilling sample leads the song in which Kordic goes on to elaborate. “It’s the other side the other side of humanity, I never talk about being in the dark, I keep it inside. Some people put on a smile and look okay, so it’s about being okay just not alright”.

One of the wider aspects of the album is how, in a beautifully twisted way, it looks at how we are a part of nature and not above it. As people coming out of the pandemic seem to slip back into pre-covid routines, it is important that what we learned during the pandemic can be put to use. “The song Everything Is Beautiful, But Us explores that, as the animals came out and everything was beautiful. That time was so beautiful yet sad at the same time, because we knew that one day it was going to end and now we’re back to this instinctive human destructiveness,” Kordic says with despair in her voice. With the conversation taking up the topic of how the UK has become the laughing stock of the world, Greaves states that “in the toughest of times comes the strongest art, I’m not saying this is what we do is the strongest art but I mean, there is a catharsis to it,” which is a statement that is at the core of what Banefyre is.

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX have created a darkly cinematic album that will no doubt capture the imaginations of many listeners. Offering up some much needed escapism yet allowing time for strong reflection on the state of the world and our part to play in it. In essence, Banefyre gives the listener an opportunity to look at the bigger picture and feel mother nature breathing down our necks.

Banefyre is out now via Season Of Mist.

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