Album Review: Crimson Glory – Chasing The Hydra | Heavy Metal
Reviewed by Rich Oliver
As well as the US declaring war on Iran and massive fuel shortages, one thing I was not expecting in 2026 was a new album by Crimson Glory. A cult favourite amongst the old school and traditional heavy metal community, Crimson Glory formed in 1983 and turned heads with their two albums during the 1980s - “Crimson Glory” in 1986 and “Transcendance” in 1988. As well as being prominent albums in the USPM (US Power Metal) scene, these albums were also massively influential on the progressive power metal sound. One big draw were the quite frankly astonishing vocals from their frontman Midnight who had a range the vast majority of singers would be envious of. The band released a divisive album “Strange And Beautiful” in 1991 before disbanding the same year. They would return in 1999 (minus Midnight who had sadly passed away) with the fourth album “Astronomica” before disbanding once again. They have reappeared infrequently throughout the last twenty odd years with live performances but 2026 sees long awaited new material from Crimson Glory with their fifth album “Chasing The Hydra”.
Three original members of the band remain from the original days - Jeff Lords on bass, Dana Burnell on drums and Ben Jackson on guitars - but “Chasing The Hydra” introduces some new blood to the Crimson Glory ranks with Mark Borgmeyer on guitars and Travis Wills on vocals. This line up has been performing live for the past couple of years so the chemistry is there but does the band's first new material in 26 years stand up to their previous output? Though there are a few throwbacks to their classic material (the intro of the title track is very similar to ‘Red Sharks’ from 1988), this is a Crimson Glor
This is for the majority some mid-paced, melodic and progressive heavy metal with songs such as ‘Redden The Sun’, the eastern inspired ‘Indelible Ashes’ and ‘Beyond The Unknown’ being solid heavy metal with plenty of melody and relying on interesting progressive song structures rather than hooks and choruses. There are a few songs which are a bit more driving and heavy sounding such as ‘Armor Against Fate’, ‘Pearls Of Dust’ and the title track which help kick the album into gear. Travis Wills may not be as strong a vocalist as Midnight was (but very few are) but there are plenty of songs which play to his strengths as a singer with ‘Angel In My Nightmare’ being a particular highlight and one of the strongest songs on the album.
It may have been 26 years since their last album but Crimson Glory can still deliver the goods and show themselves to be far more than an old school nostalgia act. There is enough of the old school sound to be heard throughout as well as some of the progressive touches that were on “Astronomica” but “Chasing The Hydra” is an excellent piece of progressive and melodic heavy metal. This is not a band chasing radio play but knowing their strengths and knowing what their fans would expect from them. “Chasing The Hydra” will take a few listens to sink in but will end up being a rewarding listen with some top drawer musicianship.
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