Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

The Crimson

Portrait Killed The Artist (2005)
Barely Breathing

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Contributed by: Meg
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on April 1st 2005

With a name like the Crimson, it's not easy to keep an open mind before listening. Such words come to mind as: death, blood, murder, kill -- you know, all of today's popular, "kewl" themes. But on the contrary, all assumptions are wiped away the moment Portrait Killed The Artist plays.

A seemingly hardcore, borderline metalcore album without melodic vocal interludes? There's a shock. The absence of melodic vocals continues until halfway through the record's third track, "Wake Up Joan Rivers, The 60's Are Over." Despite the brief but still unpleasant melodic vocal interlude, the Crimson continue with a solid, cleanly produced sound.

Another cliché of metalcore? Sound clips. Yes, the Crimson feature a few sound clips, but not to the point where one just might watch a handful of movies and get the same effect as the CD*. "Red Light Nightmares" is something you need to hear to understand why I enjoy it so much.

Portrait Killed The Artist continues its unique flare with the final track, "Closure & Solace," in which the sound soley consists of an old fashioned-sounding piano recorded on vinyl. Mikey Ruiz, front man of the Crimson, has noted, "We don't try to stick to any genre...," and while very few bands probably try sticking to one genre, the Crimson do a good job of not being tied down to one label. This Orange County band is definitely something to keep an eye on in the future.

* - Writer does, in fact, enjoy noted band.

MP3s
Deathbed
Love Like Eden
Diana Ross Killed My Baby

Login to rate this album

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Anonymous (April 6, 2005)

Good Review

moneenerd (April 5, 2005)

i keep getting these guys mixed up with The Crimson Curse, that had members of The Locust in it, but you know... way better than The Locust.

Anonymous (April 5, 2005)

Worst thing that ever happened to me quote besides being from fight club is from a Boys Night Out song.

Anonymous (April 4, 2005)

i can remember that "you're the worst thing" line too...

for one, it was in fight club, but everybody prolly already knew that... i also remember hearing it but can't remember where the hell from

Anonymous (April 4, 2005)

Wake up The Crimson, your band is lame.

inagreendase (April 4, 2005)

Nic, you can sign your name on the other 3 anonymous posts you made too, you know.

Anonymous (April 3, 2005)

The CRIMSON mother fucking owns. nic.

Anonymous (April 2, 2005)

that song deathbed starts with "your the worst thing that ever happend to me"

i swear ive heard that in another bands song, but i cant think of it, somebody help! im gona go nuts

Anonymous (April 2, 2005)

this whole cd is fricken awesome. i really enjoy the music they write

Anonymous (April 2, 2005)

: )

Anonymous (April 2, 2005)

Sick mosh, bro

stevejonestherealbones (April 1, 2005)

bands love the word "crimson"

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (April 1, 2005)

I'm loving these songs!

Anonymous (April 1, 2005)

Wow, this band is really good

Inspection12e (April 1, 2005)

More generic metalcore please!

Sally_Field (April 1, 2005)

"Such words come to mind as: death, blood, murder, kill.... But on the contrary, all assumptions are wiped away the moment Portrait Killed The Artist plays."

How is that contrary? look at the name.

The statement means that I had a preconcieved notion of how the band would sound just because their name contained the word "Crimson," yet another ominous, death-dealing word.

It was on the contrary that the band wasn't horrendously predictable and bad, in my opinion. It surprised me.

PAYCE.

bannedinct (April 1, 2005)

Score is for the artwork ripping off Senses Fail. And come on, guys. Senses Fail? That's pretty low.

TheOneTrueBill (April 1, 2005)

Did you like them? Did you really like them?

Anonymous (April 1, 2005)

"Such words come to mind as: death, blood, murder, kill.... But on the contrary, all assumptions are wiped away the moment Portrait Killed The Artist plays."

How is that contrary? look at the name.