Crimson by Edge of Sanity

Crimson by Swedish band Edge of Sanity, a 1996 extreme prog metal masterpiece, is here in a fantastic reissue released in 2025 on 180g vinyl remastered by Dan Swano.

This edition is dedicated to the memory of Mieszko Talarczyk, the singer and guitarist of the Swedish bands Nasum, Genocide Superstars, and Krigshote, who tragically died in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

It is a concept album consisting of a single, 40-minute track that tells a story set in the distant future, when human civilization is nearing its end.

Crimson is a masterpiece that owes much to the genius of Dan Swano, a single song of exceptional quality throughout its entire run that manages to musically convey the image of a dark, alien society.

A riot of riffs alternating with acoustic passages and very heavy, menacing, and disturbing passages, complex and super-fast guitar riffs over great keyboard work. Certain themes recur throughout the album in a structure that's nothing short of perfect, complemented by Swano's growling vocals alternating with clean vocals.

This remastered version stands out, in my opinion, for its great quality and clarity of sound. I didn't notice any distortions or annoying compression, as often happens, compared to the CD version, the only one I had. I'm so happy to now have the vinyl version.

A masterful performance, with Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt appearing as a guest on vocals and lead guitar, but also noteworthy are the performances of Anders Lindberg on bass and Benny Larsson on drums, providing a powerful yet precise rhythm section; the guitars of Andreas Axelsson and Sami Nerberg with their spectacular riffs; Anders Måreby on cello; and finally, the genius of Dan Swanö on vocals (extraordinary at every stage), keyboards, and acoustic guitar.

In my opinion, this is one of the best Extreme Prog Metal albums ever released, undoubtedly a must-have for fans.

The Tracks
1. Crimson (40:00)
Running Time: 40:00

The Lineup
- Dan Swanö - vocals, keyboards, rhythm, harmony, and acoustic guitar
- Andreas Axelsson - guitar (right)
- Sami Nerberg - guitar (left)
- Anders Lindberg - bass
- Benny Larsson - drums
Featuring:
- Mikael Åkerfeldt - occasional vocals, additional lead guitar
- Anders Måreby - cello