Astronomica

Astronomica Artist: Crimson Glory
Label: Spitfire
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 670211504323
EAN: 0670211504323
ASIN: B00000JPCW


Release Date: 1999-08-24

Related Categories:

General General
Related | Pop | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Rock | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Progressive Metal Progressive Metal
Related | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Metal Metal
Related | Hard Rock & Metal | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Listmania:

  1. The Underrated Hard Rock/Metal Classics--Varied genres
  2. MetalRules.com: Top 10 of 1999
  3. My favorite Metal albums

Tracks:

  1. March To Glory
  2. War Of The Worlds
  3. New World Machine
  4. Astronomica
  5. Edge Of Forever
  6. Touch The Sun
  7. Lucifer's Hammer
  8. The Other Side Of Midnight
  9. Cyber-Christ
  10. Cydonia

Similar Items:

  1. Transcendence
  2. Strange & Beautiful
  3. Crimson Glory
  4. Battle Cry
  5. Into the Electric Castle

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Astronomica.......2007-02-08

After reading the other reviews before me, I feel somewhat naieve to be writing my own, considering that this CD is my first taste of Crimson Glory and judging from what everyone else says is their weakest effort. However, I suppose this review will be unbiased to prior Crimson Glory work.

First off, Crimson Glory has a unique sound. It's a good sound, but it's different. Listen and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Edge of Forever is the first Crimson Glory song I heard, and I loved it. To me, it's Diary Of A Madman meets Axl Rose. I'd say it's the strongest track on the CD. Other good songs are Cydonia, Astronomica, Touch The Sun, and The Other Side of Midnight.

The Other Side of Midnight is a good eerie song. "I bang my head against the wall, to kill the demons in my skull" is a part of the lyrics. Simple, but when mixed with the vocals and music, it fits like a glove. However, the disappointing part of the song is after the solo when the laughing begins. It reminds me so much of Dr. Evil that I sometimes start laughing myself with my pinkie beside my mouth. But, if you like that movie (like myself) it adds the light (humor) to a dark song, making it an overall good one.

3/5 for Astronimca. Not the greatest CD on earth, but far from the worst. I will definelty be looking into previous efforts by Crimson Glory.

4 out of 5 stars Too much bashing for a good album.......2005-03-11

Listen people, this album stands on it's own without any help from me, but I have to say my peace. It is a GOOD album. Is it great, to me it actually is. I enjoy Drenning's guitar work, his solos seem to fit the song as good as any soloist out there, and anywhere that I can get his work I am happy.

Is it as good as Transcendence? No, it's not. But you know what, that was an AMAZING album, period. There was no way that they could repeat it, yet anyway.

For fans out there, check out Crimson Glory's website, they have a new album in the works. For those interested in checking out some good, metal, buy this cd. Give it a couple of listens, put your ear on the lead guitar, and be impressed. Thanks guys, keep putting out the music and I'll keep buying.

3 out of 5 stars A satisfying piece of work.......2004-10-30

Astronomica is the fourth full-length album from Crimson Glory. It was released in 1999. Ten tracks are contained; one of these--the album-opening "March to Glory"--is an instrumental. The material is in a hard rock musical direction. Altogether, I think that the songwriting is satisfying, the musicianship is tight, and the sound quality is gratifying. Jon Drenning does a solid job with the guitar work. As for Wade Black, he is a versatile singer. Jeff Lords' bass guitar playing is prominent in the mix. Also, the album contains sparing keyboard work. My favorite pieces are "March to Glory," "Touch the Sun," and "Cydonia." "March to Glory" is an interesting, engaging, and majestic instrumental. The epic-sounding "Touch the Sun" displays an indelible chorus and hard-driving bass guitar playing from Lords. The stately, album-closing "Cydonia" exhibits an intro that consists of attractive guitar work from Drenning and a memorable refrain. Other compositions that I enjoy are "War of the Worlds," "Astronomica," and "Cyber-Christ." The energy-filled, furious "War of the Worlds" has an odd ending section of keyboard playing. "Astronomica" features a creative, exotic beginning and a pleasing main guitar riff from Drenning. "Cyber-Christ" sports a taut principal guitar riff from Drenning. The CD booklet includes the song lyrics and a color photo of the band. The album cover artwork is interesting. Astronomica is a good piece of work from Crimson Glory.

3 out of 5 stars ...or even 4 stars, if it wasn't Crimson Glory!.......2002-12-20

Imagine that this release comes from a "brand-new" band. Everybody would say: "good start!", "very good for a first release", etc. Sad but true, that's not the case. Crimson Glory tried in this album to bring back their early-days' glory after more than a decade of absence. The result, although not so bad, is at least pathetic. I give to this album three stars because their playing skills still are very sharp -but please, keep reading.

First of all, I do miss Midnight. Not only for his lyrics (which by the way are never matched all along Astronomica), but also for his singing. And note that I say "singing" and not "voice". I do agree that Wade Black is a great vocalist in spite of his exaggerated influences from Rob Halford. He has a wide range, a well-trained voice and a good technique. But Midnight delivered more emotion, and he also was deeper and more convincent in his sentences. Take for example Astronomica's song "The Other Side Of Midnight". Black's "You're not me!'s" sound as a fake there. There's no dramatism! Compare that to Midnight's "You're not me!'s" in "Lost Reflections", and you'll notice in a snap that they were chilling, weren't they? And what about when Black says "I start to cry and cut myself..."? He sounds like saying "I'm going to buy some ice-cream". Definitively, he lacks of something that Midnight had in big amounts: a lot of feeling.

Astronomica also suffers from the weakest songwrinting in the history of the band -I opine that's even weakest than "Strange and Beautiful", even if Astronomica sounds more "metally correct" (sorry about that). While the level of energy and power that they deploy here is high enough to please to many power metal fans, I don't see in this album nothing like "Lady Of Winter" or "Lonely" or "In Dark Places" or "Dragon Lady" or... -the list would be endless. In addition, their explicit intention of bringing back the sound of their "Transcendence", puts in my mouth a pretty bitter taste: it's like a caricature. They pushed hard, but they couldn't make it! -or yes?

But there are even worst things in this Astronomica: I see in this album a try of earning some bucks by taking advantage of the current growing popularity of power and progressive metal. That's why Crimson Glory came back, and that's also why their Astronomica effort sounds so artificially flavoured. They're being more comercial than ever -at least, in their most inner intentions. I can't stand that image applied to a band that actually helped to create the progressive metal's foundation! They were one of the greatest bands ever, and now they come with this story! C'mon guys! What's going on?

Anyway, as I previously said, this album woudn't be bad if it wasn't Crimson Glory's. The song "Astronomica" itself sounds good, as well as "Touch The Sun". Also, "Cydonia" is a track that I like, in spite of its hairy-like chorus. People new to the band maybe should start by listening this, and then go to their two first efforts. This album is correctly made, although for me it's still far from the true Crimson Glory. Enjoy it while you can. It's not that bad, believe me. Just it's... not Crimson Glory!

3 out of 5 stars ...or even 4 stars, if it wasn't Crimson Glory!.......2002-12-20

Imagine that this release comes from a "brand-new" band. Everybody would say: "good start!", "very good for a first release", etc. Sad but true, that's not the case. Crimson Glory tried in this album to bring back their early-days' glory after more than a decade of absence. The result, although not so bad, is at least pathetic. I give to this album three stars because their playing skills still are very sharp -but please, keep reading.

First of all, I do miss Midnight. Not only for his lyrics (which by the way are never matched all along Astronomica), but also for his singing. And note that I say "singing" and not "voice". I do agree that Wade Black is a great vocalist in spite of his exaggerated influences from Rob Halford. He has a wide range, a well-trained voice and a good technique. But Midnight delivered more emotion, and he also was deeper and more convincent in his sentences. Take for example Astronomica's song "The Other Side Of Midnight". Black's "You're not me!'s" sound as a fake there. There's no dramatism! Compare that to Midnight's "You're not me!'s" in "Lost Reflections", and you'll notice in a snap that they were chilling, weren't they? And what about when Black says "I start to cry and cut myself..."? He sounds like saying "I'm going to buy some ice-cream". Definitively, he lacks of something that Midnight had in big amounts: a lot of feeling.

Astronomica also suffers from the weakest songwrinting in the history of the band -I opine that's even weakest than "Strange and Beautiful", even if Astronomica sounds more "metally correct" (sorry about that). While the level of energy and power that they deploy here is high enough to please to many power metal fans, I don't see in this album nothing like "Lady Of Winter" or "Lonely" or "In Dark Places" or "Dragon Lady" or... -the list would be endless. In addition, their explicit intention of bringing back the sound of their "Transcendence", puts in my mouth a pretty bitter taste: it's like a caricature. They pushed hard, but they couldn't make it! -or yes?

But there are even worst things in this Astronomica: I see in this album a try of earning some bucks by taking advantage of the current growing popularity of power and progressive metal. That's why Crimson Glory came back, and that's also why their Astronomica effort sounds so artificially flavored. They're being more comercial than ever -at least, in their most inner intentions. I can't stand that image applied to a band that actually helped to create the progressive metal's foundation! They were one of the greatest bands ever, and now they come with this story! C'mon guys! What's going on?

Anyway, as I previously said, this album woudn't be bad if it wasn't Crimson Glory's. The song "Astronomica" itself sounds good, as well as "Touch The Sun". Also, "Cydonia" is a track that I like, in spite of its hairy-like chorus. People new to the band maybe should start by listening this, and then go to their two first efforts. This album is correctly made, although for me it's still far from the true Crimson Glory. Enjoy it while you can. It's not that bad, believe me. Just it's... not Crimson Glory!

Music CD:

  1. Interference ~ Cubanate
  2. Ace of Spades ~ Mot%C3%B6rhead
  3. Age of Quarrel/Best Wishes ~ Cro-Mags
  4. Baptized by Fire ~ Summon
  5. Bed of Nails ~ China Rain
  6. The Carnival Bizarre ~ Cathedral
  7. Command to Charge ~ Suidakra
  8. Metal Health ~ Quiet Riot
  9. The Essentials ~ Twisted Sister
  10. Cryptic Writing ~ Megadeth

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Muleskinner Blues ~ Lonnie Donegan

Average Day ~ Aztek Trip

R.I.P. ~ Coroner

Nossa Missao ~ Natiruts

Ayurveda: Art of Being ~ Various Artists

Hometown Stranger ~ Chalamanda Deja

9th & 13th ~ Jonathan Coe

Romy And Michele's High School Reunion: Original Soundtrack ~ Various Artists

Thank You Aunt (Grazie Zia) ~ Ennio Morricone

You Are a Danger ~ Gary Low