Description
Crimson Glory – Strange And Beautiful – Cassette
Crimson Glory’s Strange and Beautiful, released on June 24, 1991, marked a significant turning point for the band as they transitioned from their progressive metal roots to a more experimental and hard rock-oriented sound. Released through Atlantic Records, the album diverged from the intricate, soaring metal compositions of their earlier works, Crimson Glory (1986) and Transcendence (1988), and instead embraced elements of blues, glam metal, and melodic rock. This was the last album to feature the band’s enigmatic vocalist, Midnight, whose ethereal and operatic voice remained a defining element of their sound, even amidst the stylistic shift.
The album opens with the atmospheric and groove-driven title track, ‘Strange and Beautiful’, setting the tone for an experimental journey that incorporates lush ballads like ‘Song for Angels’ and ‘Deep Inside Your Heart’, alongside hard rock anthems such as ‘Dance on Fire’. Tracks like ‘The Chant’ and ‘Starchamber’ highlight the band’s willingness to explore tribal rhythms and progressive textures, while ‘In the Mood’ and ‘Promise Land’ showcase bluesy influences and funk-inspired grooves. While the album features polished production and a broader array of musical influences, it retains an emotional depth, particularly in Midnight’s heartfelt vocal delivery on reflective tracks like ‘Far Away’ and ‘Love and Dreams’.
Produced by Mitch Goldfarb and the band, Strange and Beautiful aimed to appeal to a wider audience during a period when rock and metal were being reshaped by grunge and alternative trends. This attempt at reinvention received mixed reactions. Fans of Crimson Glory’s earlier, metal-focused albums found the departure from their signature sound jarring, but others praised the album’s rich melodies and Midnight’s captivating performance. Commercially, the album did not achieve the same level of success as Transcendence, but it stands as a bold, experimental effort in their catalog.
Strange and Beautiful has become a polarizing yet intriguing album that showcases Crimson Glory’s versatility and willingness to evolve. It also marked the end of an era with Midnight’s departure, as the band would not return with a new release until 1999’s Astronomica. For listeners open to exploring Crimson Glory’s broader artistic ambitions, Strange and Beautiful offers a unique blend of styles and remains a testament to their creative range during a transformative time in their career.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal
Roadrunner Records
Track Listing
Strange And Beautiful
Promise Land
Love And Dreams
The Chant
On Fire
Angels
In The Mood
Starchamber
Deep Inside Your Heart
Make You Love Me
Far Away
