CRIMSON COVEN - -I- The Forge

We begin our journey with the intro and title track 'The Forge'. A foreboding wall of sound slowly drifts into an enraged, almost ritualistic spoken-word passage, accompanied by what appears to be the crackling of fire. It is brief but effective, immediately creating the feeling that something is being summoned, or perhaps forged, before the album truly begins.

‍

Our real opener arrives with 'Crimson Coven', carrying the ritualistic atmosphere of the intro straight into chanting background voices, thick bass and leading drums, while distorted guitars march steadily forward. There is something heroic and battle-ready about the track, a feeling strengthened once the commanding vocals enter. As the song progresses, the riffing becomes increasingly melodic, with creative solos adding colour without interrupting its momentum. Everything seems to push continuously forward, yet the progression feels completely natural, before the track eventually fades with a drum-driven outro.

‍

'The Birth of the Serpents' continues the atmospheric approach with carefully placed drums before the heavier percussion takes over. Occasional melodic passages add further layers to an already dense wall of sound, while the vocals adopt a more narrative style with an epic, melodic undertone. Once again, the band’s forward momentum feels remarkably natural rather than forced. Particularly strong is how the vocals and instrumentation seem to follow separate paths: neither overpowers the other, yet the songwriting allows both to move side by side, keeping the track cohesive while giving each enough room to breathe.

‍

A more aggressive tone emerges on 'Children of the Same Sun'. Heavily distorted guitar lines sharpen the attack, the marching drums pick up the pace and a brooding bass moves beneath them. The clearest shift, however, comes from the darker vocals, delivered with noticeably more urgency, power and almost a sense of need, while occasional gang shouts reinforce their force. The chorus is particularly engaging thanks to its melodic and creative instrumentation, but my highlight arrives in the bridge with an epic, skilfully played solo that fits the grand atmosphere beautifully.

‍

'Crowns of Greed' immediately stands out through its opening twin-guitar passage, bringing an interesting turn to the composition before moving into clean guitar lines and eventually returning to the band’s familiar marching rhythm. The vocals regain their epic, narrative character, carrying a sense of slightly melancholic optimism that adds another layer of emotional depth to the album. Towards the final stretch, a doomy undertone begins to weigh down the composition, while strong old-school heavy metal elements push through and give the track a fittingly traditional finish.

‍

We end our journey with ‘Unleash the Kraken’, as the sound of a raging thunderstorm immediately sets the mood. Subtle but demanding drums slowly push forward, soon joined by double bass and a prominent, brooding bass line. The opening riff carries a yearning, almost tragic beauty, as though the guitar itself were singing. As the track unfolds, the strength of the songwriting lies in its details: carefully placed drums enhance the atmosphere, ambient sounds paint vivid pictures and creative riffs keep the composition moving naturally. The vocals are equally versatile, shifting almost seamlessly between epic, aggressive and melancholic tones depending on what the song demands. Gang shouts add one final sense of grandeur before an epic guitar and vocal passage fades into the sound of strong winds. A fittingly cinematic finale to the album.

‍

With "-I- The Forge", CRIMSON COVEN deliver a remarkably cohesive debut built on atmosphere, strong songwriting and an unmistakable old-school metal spirit. Epic vocals, creative guitar work and carefully placed rhythmic details give the songs plenty of depth, while the constant forward momentum never feels forced. Dark, melodic and wonderfully cinematic, this is a debut that understands exactly what kind of world it wants to create.

‍

SCORE 8.5/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY