If you would like to buy our new Album The Dark Awakening or any other merchendise (we have badges : D and cups : D) please log onto http://www.shop.crimson-tears.co.uk/
or perhaps would like to book us for an event, just email us at
[email protected]
"The best Gothic Metal ever to step its feet into the UK music
scene...", "If you are a Gothic/Symphonic metal fan, this is a must
from some of the UK’s hottest rising bands." (Metalism.co.uk)
"The Musicianship is of the highest order in all departments...",
"Putting it simply BUY or DIE!!..."
(Power-Metal.co.uk)"
"They could definitely carry the banner for UK Gothic Metal. For a
long time we’ve been waiting for someone to do just that, and maybe
that time is not too far away. 7.5/10" (Sonic Cathedral)
The sound here is big – no beyond big, it’s huge, full, driving. To see a band like Crimson Tears in concert it would need to be an auditorium where a symphony would be at home.
If you are into classical, and want a little edge, this is for you. (Calvin Daniels www.calmardan.blogspot.com)"
OriginsBack in October 2003, guitarist Dave Miller had the driving idea of forming a metal band with a difference. His desire was to develop an Operatic Symphonic Power Metal band that really rocked but that had that commercial element, Heavy hooks and memorable riffs. He wanted to base it on one of his favourite bands Nightwish but add in elements of all the other bands he loved.
The idea of bringing together opera, symphonic sound and metal was not going to be an easy project to undertake. Finding musicians who all wanted to play this kind of music was going to be even harder.
FormationDave knew immediately of one person who would be up for this type of project. A quick phone call to long time friend and Scarab bass player, Steve Taylor fused the beginnings.
And Steve begat Steve! This new Steve was a drummer from a prior band and he had the necessary experience and was up for it. Now all he needed was a keyboard player and some bird to warble! Even though Dave was able to play some keyboards, he could not be in two places at once and so a keyboard player would be the next essential. But where would you find one who was unique, extremely talented and versatile? When he saw an advert for a Grade 8 pianist and keyboard player called Marcus, into Ozzy, HIM and Iron Maiden, he phoned him immediately.
Now to find that singer! Well trying to find a female classical/opera singer to play in a Metal band was not going be easy, in fact almost damn right impossible........
.........well we’re still searching so if you know any one who would be up for giving this thing a go, let us know. Sorry Gina! In actual fact Gina is the singing coach Steve first went to in order to find a singer! and she has been in the band ever since!
He had asked for a Charlotte Church meets Megadeth! And that is what he got! However that wasn’t quite what he needed! So two auditions later, he got the actual bloody coach!
Over the course of the following year Dave, Marcus and Gina start writing and are so happy with the results that they book into Thin Ice studios (famous for Threshold, Arena and DragonForce) for December 2004.
By now it had become apparent that Drummer Steve could not commit to recording and subsequently the band, due to family pressures and already being the Drummer for 3SD!
So it was eight weeks before the recording date and no drummer!
Luckily Marcus found Mike, who was ready, willing and able as well as being really interested in both the band and recording.
Thin ice studios: Recording diary
Karl Groom was magnificent! Not only did he manage to cope with Marcus (a feat in itself!), he was instructive as well as amenable. (Makes him sound a bit like a Laundromat!)
Mike on drums recorded on Sunday and as this was his very first trip into a studio, he was, of course, very excited! Not that you could tell this. Mike would make Bob Marley look like he spent his life taking speed! Being new to both recording and our writing, Mike could have made us wait, but he didn’t. Thanks Mike!
Then it was Steve’s turn! The bass parts were written and recorded on the day and Steve’s only comment on his days work was "Well having translated Dave’s music into stupid, now I can play it!"
By this time it was Tuesday lunch time and we needed a rest before Marcus took over!
Wow! We all sat in awe (including Marcus) as Karl programmed in his Midi files! What is even more pleasing was that we were blessed not to have to listen to more than a snatch of it at a time! Maybe next time we could save space in the car and only bring the Midi files! Who needs a keyboard player?
We spent the following morning adding just one more Midi File and then at lunch time the really hard stuff started! Dave got out his guitar and spent the rest of the afternoon tuning it! Suffice to say he was knackered by 6pm and so Gina finally got a look in. She continued to waste the last hour of the day by singing a bit... bad move!
So, last day? Dave does the Rhythm and then swans off to the pub with the lads whilst Gina gets down to some really hard work. i.e. trying to lip read Karl when he speaks without pressing any buttons.
The boys weren’t actually drunk when they returned, however it didn’t take them long to figure out that Gina sings in the shape of a penis! (All you saddos out there can spend the next month trying to figure out what the hell that means!)
Still needed a little tweaking after all that and so when we finally got to see the almost finished item, Gina asks for a copy. Not of the music, no. She wants a copy of the PROTOOLS line on the computer for making into a cross stitch pattern!
HELP! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPERATIC SYMPHONIC POWER METAL!
NOT WOMANS WEEKLY!
Not all bad though, give it a listen we are sure you will agree that it is the U.K’s catchiest O.S.P.M., great heavy music with rocking heavy hooks!
