Edge of Sanity

Crimson (Black Mark)
by Chris Dick

Black Mark Productions have finally solidified their North American invasion. Based in Germany, and now with an office in Canada, this label has a startling line-up. The most eclectic and underrated band on their roster has to be Sweden’s Edge of Sanity. EoS have experimented with more textures and depth throughout their five-album career than most bands (death metal or not) would even consider. As much as Euro-death metal (especially of the Swedish variety) has touched my soul, I feel Edge Of Sanity is the band most ready to gain global recognition. Crimson is virtually all of Dan Swano’s side projects brought together with a generous portion of Edge to boot. “Crimson” is a single 40-minute song that ranges from the intensity and dexterity of EoS to the neurotic weirdness of Pan-Thy-Monium to the Gothic melodrama of Nightingale. This ethic of integration has opened many doors for this Swedish quintet, including the ever-elusive commercial one. Not that Crimson is commercial by any means; it’s just that EoS have crafted a really magnificent album that transcends genres enough to be recognized by even the most adamant critic of death metal. Crimson is still really a death metal record, and to prove the fact, the band recruited Opeth mainman Mikael Akerfeldt as session vocalist and sped up their already-frantic pace. Crimson is death metal, but with more creative lyrical composition and inventive, if not completely amazing, songsmithing. Edge Of Sanity is a band that many of you may not have heard of before, but I’ll wager that with proper promotion, they will be resting right next to Tori Amos and Korn in your record collection. Crimson is a record that cannot be missed!