I'd already listened to this album a couple of times prior to checking the info, and in doin' so some preliminary thoughts had already come through my mind, such as “occasional '70s Prog Rock sensibilities in a modern Prog Rock act with occasional Doom intensities”, “occasional resemblances to the Space Rock of Hawkwind”, and more...but foremost I was thinking, “Haven't I heard something by this band before?”!
The answer to that question was negative but, as I learned by checking out, past and current members of the band are/ were in bands such as Iron Monkey, Gonga, Mogwai, Electric Wizard, Hearts Of Black Science, and more. The core of the band is one Justin Greaves, whom I seemed to remember by name...and indeed he was both the drummer of Iron Monkey (of whom I own both 2 albums) between 1994 and 1999, and the drummer of Earthtone9 during 1999 (which is probably where I got the memory from). Greaves however has a past beyond those two bands, having drummed for The Varukers and Silver Ginger 5 (regretfully, I found no info on when exactly that was), before starting with Iron Monkey. At the same time as his tenure with the latter (in fact, quite lateral along with it, also ending in 1999), he also played with Hard To Swallow, and toward the end of his stay with those two bands he played live drums with famed Death Metal act Borknagar between 1998 and 1999) and had his 1998 stint with Earthtone9. In 2000 and 2001, he played with Khang (about which I also found no further info), and in 2003 he started playing with Electric Wizard, a venture which lasted until 2006. In 2004, Greaves started recording primitive sounds he'd had in mind for years. Encouraged by Dominic Aitchinson, whom added some ideas of his own, this eventually led to the foundation of Crippled Black Phoenix (the name taken from the lyrics of the song “Big Loader” from Iron Monkey's self-titled debut album).
With members coming from other still active bands, CBP released its debut album A Love Of Shared Disasters through Invada Records in 2006, describing their material as “endtime ballads”. This went both to the slightly macabre nature of the lyrics, and the unusual mixing of styles...a blending which has led CBP to be called anything from Stoner-Prog to Freak-Folk to Doom. Following the debut album came 2009's 200 Tons Of Bad Luck (which may have been a digital album only, as I've found no references to a label) and The Resurrectionists/ Night Raider, issued through Invada (and apparently half of the 24-track album was already recorded in 2008), whom still released 2010's I, Vigilante. The band then switched to Mascot, who released 2011's (Mankind) The Crafty Ape. In 2012 followed the mini-album No Sadness Or Farewell (apparently in two versions, the 6-track Mascot release featuring only 5 of the tracks on the CD issued by the band), and in 2013 recordings from a show in Poland resulted in Live Pozdan.
Along the way, members tried to stay committed to CBP as long as possible, in spite of already playing in other bands...but changes in the line-up were eventually unavoidable. Thus far, a total of 20 musicians have dedicated some time in the band, and that's not counting the current members Karl Demata (on electric guitar, dobro and slide guitar), Mark Furnevall (on synthesizer, keyboards and backing vocals), Daisy Chapman (on piano and vocals), Christian Heilmann (on bass), Ben Wilsker (on drums) and newest addition Daniel Änghede (on vocals and electric guitar), with Greaves himself contributing to electric and acoustic guitar, drums, saw, keyboards, banjo, effects and samplers as the music warrants.
The latest album is said to be seen as a two-part thing, with the first half carrying the heavier songs and the second half featuring the more simple, dark and melodic songs. As track-listed, the “Black Side” ends with a wacky sample, the identification of which still defies my memory. Another sample however, at the beginning of the track “Let's Have An Apocalypse Now!, I seem to remember as coming from one of the original Planet Of The Apes movies (at any rate, it's Malcolm McDowell, that's for sure!). The opening song of the “White Side”, “Northern Comfort” seems to be a deviation from the intent of splitting the album up, as in nature it rather belongs to the first part (ooh...ya gotta love those female vocals in there dude...and it's the second track with a reminiscence to Hawkwind – although I cannot for the Lord of me tell you why; the first being “Parasites”, with its wacky synth additions). Whatever Änghede did before, I have no idea, but he's a real gem as a singer. By the way, also featured on the album, as guests, are Chrissie Caulfield (whom played violin on past CBP tours) and Belinda Kordic (no specifications as to the instrument(s), but she was already featured on the two previous CBP albums, and currently works as a team with Greaves in Se Delan).
To get a preview of the album, surf to the “video” section at (www.) crippledblackphoenix.co.uk. Also available there are the complete video for the aforementioned “Northern Comfort”, some previous music clips, and some live footage, all very much worthy of checking! Sum it all up, and what do you get? An album which should be checked out at least by anyone pretending to be a fan of Progressive Music (and you'll notice I mean that in the strict meaning of the words, namely as in “deviating from the norm”!). Make my vote one for the “Best Albums Of 2014” lists, will you!