CRIMSON SHADOWS - "A Gathering of Kings" Live At Toronto

This is a live video of "A Gathering of Kings" by Crimson Shadows (Canada) from their guest appearances at the Wacken Metal Battle Canada Finals in Toronto.

OFFICIAL: In the frozen reaches of Canada, where the mountains meet the sea; a band of young men locked in steadfast tenacity have assembled to live out their worldly dreams. The dawn of 2014 has seen Crimson Shadows borne to international praise and repute by their unwavering delivery of boundary-crushing and genre-defying modern death and power metal.

‘Combining the fiercest elements of power and death metal with crushing guttural vocals, three-part vocal harmonies, seraphic guitar-work, formidable bass and miles of breakneck drumming; Crimson Shadows have unveiled a new breed of extreme metal both ironclad and spellbinding, leaving Crimson Shadows sights set for the stratosphere!’

Having appeared at the world stage of Wacken Open Air in Germany mid-2013, the band triumphantly laid claim to the title of International Wacken Battle Champions. After touring their native Canada coast to coast, Crimson Shadows are ready to take the world by the throat and deliver their brand of heroic metal that only the ice-clad lands of Canada can forge!

Here's what reviews of the band have said in the past, from Metal Archives.

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In the end, “Kings Among Men” is an album that is going to make waves in the metal scene. There are a lot of interesting extreme metal hybrids out there today, but none more potent than Crimson Shadows. The band delivers absolutely everything one could want in a metal release: crushing riffs, spectacular melodic leads, and a mix of both insanely brutal vocals and cleaner singing. These elements are all bundled together in one epic package of glory-filled metal. “Kings Among Men” is among the most essential records of 2014, so you don’t want to put off hearing this album!

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When it comes to their latest offering, it's certainly some stirring, blood-burning stuff indeed. If one took a cup of 90s-era Blind Guardian and added two spoonfuls of older Children of Bodom you'll get a metallic cocktail worth its weight in speedy harmonies. The power metal-side of things is more noticeable by way of the general flow and inherent majestic melodies. Leaning more on guitar work as opposed to an overtly symphonic approach (said approach is still there, used mainly as padding behind the riffs and leads), the songwriting is more straightforward, thrashy and impactful, relying on only a few different paths to follow as opposed to stretching itself too thin by incorporating too many layers and arrangement schemes. Such a scenario isn't a bad thing in itself, only when utilized incorrectly, and CS's more truncated method really works well for them. They aren't spinning epic yarns in the woods at night, after all; these are potent and energetic war chants and hymns that demand the listeners grab their swords and follow their charge into a battle you are sure to win, by the gods! Again sirs and madams, stirring stuff indeed...

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Crimson Shadows is a relatively new and interesting band from the Canadian metal scene, with 2014's "Kings Among Men" marking their first release on Napalm Records. And what an offering it is; blending the brutality of melodic death metal with the catchy choral lines and shred guitar solos of power metal that are very reminiscent of DragonForce in particular. It can't be overstated how well they execute this combination; writing infectiously catchy songs about battle and glory that rival the finest contemporaries within the genre.

Crimson Shadows plays a style of power-infused melodic death metal made popular by bands like Children of Bodom and Kalmah in the late 90s-early 00s. Recently, the genre has been experiencing a considerable revival; with several groups derived from the extreme power metal movement coming into form in various scenes around the world. Crimson Shadows is one of these bands; effectively breathing life into a style that was left for dead a decade ago. After a brief opening track, the band hits the ground running with "Rise to Power" which immediately sets a fast and heavy tone that defines what the album is all about; blistering melodic aggression that does not relent.

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CRIMSON SHADOWS - Live At Toronto | Napalm Records

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