03/30/2008 11:46

Crystal Blaze

Crystal Blaze announce new drummer + new demo info

Finland's heavy prog metallers Crystal Blaze have informed about their new drummer and next album:

"We are extremely proud to officially announce the new tighter-than-ever lineup of Crystal Blaze along with the release of our latest recording, 'Beneath the Sands'!

We have found the perfectly fitting personality, skill and groove to match our requirements for the new ruler of the drummer's throne in Crystal Blaze. So, to cut a long story short, we are honoured to welcome Juhana "Juffi" Karlsson (Amoral) as the new pulse, beat and time of CB! As said before, he did an excellent job on the new EP and seemed to enjoy it! After seeing him in real studio action there was no question about who we would like to see playing drums in CB and as we discussed the matter with him a few weeks later, it came obvious that he would become the 6th member of the CB family! Once again, thank you Juffi and welcome aboard!

In addition we have now finished mixing and mastering the four new tracks which together sum up the new style of CB. The title track, 'Beneath the Sands', opens the demo up with raunchy riffs, a catchy chorus and extremely intense doublebass & guitar action. The second song, 'Paradise of Lies' will bring you closer to the older Crystal Blaze with its soaring guitar leads and groovy keyboard melodies, but beware of the thrashy part in the middle! In 'Storm Arising' you'll find yourself in a newer wave of CB, the wall of sound in the intro turns slowly into a smooth chorus with its astral and industrial keyboards. The gentle vocal melodies, will take you away to a place, where CB has never taken you before. And finally 'My Last Scream' rushes through your mind with ridiculously fast pace and riffs that force you to bang your head along with the song.

Listening through the tracks you'll find an evolved version of the band you have either come to like or dislike, to love or hate. We have increased the amount of ground pounding and crunchy riffs to the new material without sacrificing any of the catchy melodies and singalong choruses typically found in CB's songs - we have even added a taste of industrial elements to some of the songs. This new demo is absolutely the most diverse and intriguing recording we have ever done so far, and in our opinion, it contains without question the best songs ever written by CB."

(source: the official Crystal Blaze website)