Crimson Moonlight

Crimson Moonlight is a Swedish unblack metal band.[2] The band was formed in the summer of 1997 with the mere intention of recording a primitive old school black metal demo and playing one show before breaking up. However, the breakup never happened, and they have since recorded two EPs and three full-length albums. They were previously signed to Rivel Records, currently to Endtime Productions. They have toured US twice, and have been featured in two metal documentary films.

Crimson Moonlight
Crimson Moonlight at Elements of Rock 2017.
Background information
OriginJönköping, Sweden
GenresBlack metal,[1] Unblack metal,[1] Christian metal,[1] symphonic black metal
Years active1997–present
LabelsEndtime (2006–present)
Rivel Records (2003–2006)
Associated actsAntestor, Sanctifica, Pantokrator, Miseration, Inevitable End
Websitecrimsonmoonlight.com
MembersPilgrim Bestiarius XII
Gustav Elowsson
Per Sundberg
Johan Wold Ylenstrand

History

Beginning (1997–1999)

Crimson Moonlight was formed by Simon "Pilgrim" Rosén (vocals), Gustav "Gurra" Elowsson (drums), Petter Stenmarker (guitar, keyboards), Jonathan Jansson (guitar), and Simon Lindh (bass) in the summer of 1997. They recorded a demo called Glorification of the Master of Light. Originally, their intention was to split the band after recording that demo, but they decided to carry on. In the year 1998, they recorded their first studio EP titled Eternal Emperor, which presented a more keyboard-driven symphonic black metal style, in contrast to the more primitive, Horde-inspired music found on their demo.[3] In 1998, Crimson Moonlight released a live album titled Live in Varsås, and in 2001 released their second demo titled Heralding the Dawn.

The Covenant Progress and Veil of Remembrance (2000–2006)

A few years later, Crimson Moonlight signed a record deal with Rivel Records, a small Swedish label held by Christian Rivel. During that time, Jonathan Jansson and Simon Lindh left the band. Hubertus Liljegren, formerly of the then-split-up group Sanctifica, along with Per Sundberg, joined Crimson Moonlight as guitarists. In 2003, Crimson Moonlight recorded their first studio album titled The Covenant Progress. Musically, the album took a more melodic black metal direction with less emphasis on symphonic keyboards. The album received positive reviews[4] from metal music media, and by 2005 it had sold 2300 copies. During 2003, Crimson Moonlight played several tours around Europe to support The Covenant Progress.

In 2004, Crimson Moonlight recorded their second album titled Veil of Remembrance. The album showcased several changes in the band's style: they left keyboards in order to achieve a far more brutal sound, and went to incorporate grindcore and brutal death metal influences into their sound, inspired by groups such as Nile, Origin, Rotten Sound, and Nasum. During the studio sessions, Jani Stefanovic (of Divinefire, Renascent, and many other band's fame) was in Crimson Moonlight's line-up and had a notable role in creating their new style, now called death/black metal. Just like its predecessor, Veil of Remembrance was officially released on January 26, 2005 although it was already available since December 4, 2004. The album received positive reviews[4] like its predecessor, but ended up selling fewer copies than The Covenant Progress. In an interview with Harm magazine, the band believed that p2p-filesharing affected the low sales. They toured Europe again to support the album.[5] At the end of 2004, they also released a compilation album titled Songs from the Archives, which included the Eternal Emperor EP, tracks from both albums, demo tracks, and live recordings.[6]

Following this, the band went through some line-up changes. Both Hubertus Liljegren and Jani Stefanovic left, as did Erik Tordsson. Johan Ylenstrand joined as a bassist. Ylenstrand and Elowsson also play in a deathgrind band called Exhale, which has released one album and played at a US death metal festival called Maryland Deathfest. In 2006, Elowsson received endorsements of the drumming gear companies Sabian, Pearl, Remo, and Vic Firth.[7]

In Depths of Dreams Unconscious (2006–2011)

In 2006, Crimson Moonlight's deal with Rivel Records had come to an end and the band began searching for new label. On June 17, 2006, the extreme metal label Endtime Productions announced that they signed Crimson Moonlight. Crimson Moonlight had recorded an EP in profound secrecy. During the summer, Crimson Moonlight played their first tour in the United States and sold the pre-release pressings of their new recording, which was entitled In Depths of Dreams Unconscious. It featured two new songs and a re-recording of a song from their first demo. Musically, the EP continued on their death/black metal direction with a more melodic setting. The official release also contained an instrumental intro done by Swedish neoclassical group Arcana. In Depths of Dreams Unconscious was officially released February 1, 2007. In the summer of 2007, Crimson Moonlight played at the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois for the second time since 2006.

Brief hiatus and Divine Darkness (2011–present)

In late 2011, after a hiatus, the band launched an official Facebook site, played at NordicFest and announced that they were working on a new album. In 2014 they released the single The Suffering, which was part of their album Divine Darkness, released via Endtime Productions on February 26, 2016. Pilgrim did an interview in March 2016, stating the lineup consisted of himself, Gurra, Johan Ylenstrand, and Per Sundberg.[8] The band is currently working on a new album titled Epiklesis - Maranatha.[9]

Members
Current line-up[8]
Members Instruments Years active Other projects
Simon "Pilgrim Bestiarius XII" Rósen Vocals 1997–present Horde, Vital Decision, Obsecration
Per Sundberg Guitar, Bass, Keys 2002-2009, 2011–present
Johan Wold Ylenstrand Guitar, Bass 2006-2009, 2011–present Inevitable End, Vital Decision, Sordid, Sordid Death, The Weakening, Miseration
Rickard Gustafsson Bass 2016–2019 (live), 2019–present Pantokrator, Melech, Golden Resurrection
Gustav Elowsson Drums 1997–present Exhale, Antestor, Obsecration
Former members
Members Instruments Years active Other projects
Joakim Malmborg Guitar 2006-2009 Inevitable End
Hubertus Liljegren Guitars, Bass 2002-2006 Sanctifica, Oblivion, The Malice
Samuel Lundberg Guitars 2001-2002
David Seiving Bass 1999-2002 Sanctifica, As a Reminder
Petter Stenmarker Guitars 1997-2003 Oblivion
Alexander Orest Keyboards 1997-2001 Sanctifica
Erik Tordsson Bass, Guitars 2004-2006 7Days, End of September
Jani Stefanovic Guitars 2004-2006 Renascent, Divinefire, Miseration, Essence of Sorrow, Mehida, The Few Against Many, The Weakening, Solution .45, Am I Blood, Sins Of Omission, Hilastherion
Simon Lindh Bass 1997-1999
Jonathan Jansson Guitars 1997-2000 Pantokrator, Sanctifica, Skogen, Litania, As a Reminder
Timeline

Discography

Glorification of the Master of Light

  • Released: 1997
  • Format: CD/Cassette
  • Label: Independent

Eternal Emperor

  • Released: 1998
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

The Covenant Progress

  • Released: 2003
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Rivel Records
  • Producer: Tomas Johansson

Songs from the Archives

  • Released: 2003
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Rivel Records

Veil of Remembrance

  • Released: 2004
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Rivel Records

In Depths of Dreams Unconscious

  • Released: 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Endtime Productions

Divine Darkness

  • Released: February 26, 2016
  • Format: CD/Digital
  • Label: Endtime Records
  • Singles: The Suffering

Heralding the Dawn

  • Released: 2001
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

Live in Värsås

  • Released: 1998
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent
gollark: What you can do, at least, is add quartz coolers and enderium coolers and stuff in the gaps.
gollark: i.e. copper coolers won't work with active glowstone beside them.
gollark: Note, though, that if you actively cool with glowstone then the copper coolers won't work - all coolers with other cooler requirements require - *specifically* - a passive cooler.
gollark: It's currently *probably* the optimal structure for high-efficiency fuels at low heat.
gollark: (you just plonk down a glowstone cooler in bits where there are two moderators, and then copper in the empty spaces where you can't put glowstone coolers)

References
  1. Born, R. "Crimson Moonlight". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  2. The Divine Darkness: at Home with Crimson Moonlight's Frontman at the Wayback Machine (archive index). HM Magazine. Retrieved on June 22, 2016.
  3. Slovaev, Arthur (1998). "Crimson Moonlight". Vae solis, a Russian metal music webzine. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-08-29. Interview with now-former guitarist Petter Stenmarker
  4. "Crimson Moonlight Reviews". Rivel Records, Review links. Open Publishing. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  5. Wayfaerer (2005-04-30). "Crimson Moonlight Interview". Harm Magazine. Open Publishing. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2005-02-24.
  6. Jordan, Jason (2005). "Crimson Moonlight at Their Most Brutal". Ultimate Metal webzine. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-07-29. Interview with Crimson Moonlight
  7. "Crimson Moonlight". Crimsonmoonlight.com. Open Publishing. 2006-04-30. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  8. Simms, Kelley (March 11, 2016). "Crimson Moonlight – Blackened Liturgy". BraveWords. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  9. Crimson Moonlight (July 25, 2018). "In the act of Epiklesis - Maranatha!". Instagram. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
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