Crom - 'Higher Ground' (Rasmussen cover)

Δισκογραφική επιστροφή για τους Crom μετά από έξι (τυπικά δύο αν συνυπολογίσουμε και το ep "Into the Glory Land") χρόνια. Ο διάδοχος του album "When Northmen Die" (Δεκέμβριος 2017) φέρει τον τίτλο "The Era of Darkness" και αναμένεται στα ξεκινήματα του νέου έτους (ωραία θα μπει η νέα χρονιά!).

Παρακολουθούμε το μουσικό βίντεο με την διασκευή των Γερμανών metallers στο τραγούδι "Higher Ground". Πρόκειται για το μουσικό κομμάτι που εκπροσώπησε την Δανία στον μουσικό διαγωνισμό το 2018 (καταλαμβάνοντας την 9η θέση με 226 βαθμούς). Το τραγούδησε ο Jonas Flodager Rasmussen κι αποτελεί σύνθεση των Niclas Arn, Karl Eurén.

Τον θεό Crom μας τον σύστησε ο R.E. Howard μέσα από τις ιστορίες του Conan. Τουλάχιστον μισή ντουζίνα συγκροτήματα γνωρίζω που το έχουν ιδιοποιηθεί το όνομα. Οι (συγκεκριμένοι) Crom μας έρχονται από την Γερμανία.

Σχηματίσθηκαν πριν από 25 χρόνια από τον Walter Grosse (υπογράφει ως Crom), ο οποίος προερχόταν από τον black metal χώρο (βλ. Dark Fortress, Sindecade) και τα πρώτα χρόνια είχε αναλάβει τα πάντα. Έχουν κυκλοφορήσει τρεις "ολοκληρωμένους" δίσκους, τρία demos και δύο EPs...

Δελτίο τύπου: «There’s no denying... Music has become, even in its more extreme and heavier forms, a “market”. Sales figures are thrown, marketing plans are drawn, social media strategies are put into place.

And the “success” outcome is measured by stream counts, quick likes without even listening to the whole album and views countings. Week after week, the machine is grinding more releases and bands, always moving forward, with listeners overwhelmed by the quantity of new music at their disposal.

CROM’s new album was not written and recorded for this “market”. Mastermind Walter “Crom” Grosse has played that game (and won in, for that matter) with Dark Fortress (he served there as bassist and guitarist between 1997 and 2001), but he retreated to his Bathory-inspired musical influences and stood his ground with his project Crom, which slowly turned into a three-man army.

“The Era Of Darkness” is the new battlefield of the trio and, once again, it breathes and lives heavy metal in its most epic forms.

From big chorus to gigantic, fist-pumping solos and breathtaking guitar leads, the new Crom album is a collection of varied but cohesive heavy/power metal anthems that will get your blood pumping once again for true metal, if you listen to it properly - paying attention to the lyrics, active listening and giving it enough spins, instead of just turning to the next release stream after a few minutes.

Whilst playing with German melodic black metallers Dark Fortress, Walter “Crom” Grosse began working on a solo-project that was worlds apart from the raw aggression normally associated with the genre in which he started.

The more the work progressed, the more Grosse realised that he much preferred to forge his own musical path, a path where melody is the defining factor, and, following on from the positive response to his debut EP “The Fallen Beauty”, he decided to focus his attention solely on the band that had become Crom.

Grosse has never made any secret of his admiration and respect for Quorthon. Like many other musicians, he is influenced by the epic melodies of the legendary Bathory, but, unlike many, he has allowed the influence to subtly shade, rather than define, the musical content.

Crom has an individuality that can only be described as, well... “CROM”! Delicate acoustic guitars are counter-pointed by crushing metal riffs. A powerful vocal performance is accompanied by melodies that are in turn poignant or majestic.

With his use of choirs, epic arrangements, skilful transitions, and stirring melodies, Grosse is able to conjure up images of mighty warriors and lost loves; epic struggles and tragic personal losses; despair and ultimate salvation.

After three albums (“Vengeance” in 2008, “Of Love And Death” in 2011 and “When Northmen Die” in 2017) Crom started a brand new chapter in its career, signing a new record deal with From The Vaults releasing the new EP “Into The Glory Land” in 2021. A spearhead craved deep in the future, foreshowing the battle that was yet to come...»

Band: Crom
Country of origin: Germany
Location: Landshut, Bavaria
Formed in: 1997
Genre: Viking/Power Metal
Lyrical themes: Epic Battles, Despair
Years active: 1997-present

Video: "Higher Ground"
Video by: Rafael Barros
Album: "The Era Of Darkness"
Type: Full length
Release date: January 13th, 2023
Label: From the Vaults
Format: CD, 12" vinyl, Digital

Track listing:
01. Into The Glory Land
02. Heart Of The Lion
03. The Era Of Darkness 04:25
04. Higher Ground
05. Together We Ride
06. In Your Eyes
07. Riding Into The Sun
08. The Forsaken
09. When Will The Wounds Ever Heal
10. Bridge To Paradise
11. A New Star
12. The Last Unicorn

Band members:
Crom - Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Thomas Hagl - Drums
Stefan Peyerl (Steve) - Guitars (lead)