01. Crippled Black Phoenix - 'Ellengæst'

Crippled Black Phoenix are virtuosi multi-instrumentalist Justin Greaves and an ever-revolving cast of contributors. Justin specialises in what he calls "endtime” ballads”, a poignant mix of the melodic and the macabre. Everything that Crippled Black Phoenix have done over the last sixteen years seems to lead up to this record. Whilst retaining a lot of the same musical DNA that is present in the preceding records, this still feels like a sonic and evolutionary leap. 

“Ellengæst” is a sprawling melancholic masterpiece. It is a sumptuous amalgamation of light and dark. This is beauty with a shadow firmly cast over it. The songs are exquisite, subtly constructed and full of poignancy and pathos. But there is pain here, and this sorrow and trauma comes through loud and clear over the 54-minute runtime. 

I have spoken quite a bit over the last hundred entries about music being a gateway to ones’ soul, but it is never truer than here with “Ellengæst”. It is a brutally honest record, raw with passion and weighed down with years of perseverance and grounded down determination. You can hear the resilience and sheer will to carry on, but also the bleak darkness of hopelessness and inner despair. 

This is a brave, personal record that shines its life firmly inwards. The guitars and keyboards soar in awesome cacophonies, but it always feels resigned rather than joyful. Like there is a begrudged feeling that any high will be followed inevitably by a crushing down. This is the sound of a daily battle to reach the end of the day, with survival being a small but valiantly won triumph. 

I can not stress enough how magnificently wonderful this album is. It is emotive, effecting and stunningly gorgeous. It is harsh and harrowing in places but ultimately there is positivity as this is a tale of endurance and overcoming demons. By far and way the most compelling, stimulating and awe-inspiring I have heard in a long time. Very Very Very much my album of the year. Thank You.