Crimson Moonlight

Crimson Moonlight
Origin	Jönköping, Sweden
Genres	Christian metal,[1] unblack metal[1]
Years active	1997 onward
Labels	Endtime Productions (2006 - Present) Rivel Records (2003 - 2006)
Associated acts	Antestor, Sanctifica
Website	crimsonmoonlight.com
Members
Simon "Pilgrim" Rosén Gustav "Gurra" Elowsson
Past members
(full list)

Crimson Moonlight is a Swedish Christian black metal band which 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 two 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.

History

Beginning

Crimson Moonlight was formed by Simon Rosén (vocals), Gustav 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 unblack metal style, in contrast to the more primitive, Horde-inspired music found on their demo.^[2] 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

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 unblack metal direction with less emphasis on symphonic keyboards. The album received positive reviews^[3] 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 Stefanivic (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/unblack 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^[3] like its predecessor, but ended up selling less 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6]

In Depths of Dreams Unconscious

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.

In late 2011, after a hiatus, the band launched an official Facebook site, played at Nordic fest and announced that they are working on a new album.

Current line-up

• Simon "Pilgrim" Rosen - vocals (1997—Present)
• Gustav Elowsson - drums (1997—Present)
• P - guitar
• J - guitar
• ? - bass

Former members

• Nicholas Barker - Session Drummer
• Johan Ylenstrand - Bass (?—Present)
• Joakim Malmborg - guitars (2006—Present)
• Per Sundberg - guitars (?—Present)
• Hubertus Liljegren - Guitars/Bass
• Samuel Lundberg - Guitars (2000?)
• David Sieving - Bass (1999?—?)
• Petter Stenmarker - Guitars/Keyboards (1997—200?)
• Erik Tordsson - Bass/Guitars
• Jani Stefanovic - Guitars
• Jonas Arvidsson - Guitars
• Jonathan Jansson - Guitars (1997—2000)
• Simon Lindh - Bass (1997—1999?)

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

Other releases

Heralding the Dawn

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

Live in Värsås

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

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Born, R. "Crimson Moonlight". MusicMight. http://www.musicmight.com/artist/sweden/jnkping/crimson+moonlight. Retrieved 2009-12-21. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ Slovaev, Arthur (1998). "Crimson Moonlight". Vae solis, a Russian metal music webzine. Open Publishing. http://www.rusmetal.ru/vae_solis/crimsonmoonlight.html. Retrieved 2007-08-29.  Interview with now-former guitarist Petter Stenmarker
3. ^ ^{a b} "Crimson Moonlight Reviews". Rivel Records, Review links. Open Publishing. 2007. http://www.rivelrecords.com/reviews.php. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
4. ^ Wayfaerer (2005-04-30). "Crimson Moonlight Interview". Harm Magazine. Open Publishing. http://www.harm.us/interviews/showinterview.cfm?interID=115. Retrieved 2005-02-24. 
5. ^ Jordan, Jason (2005). "Crimson Moonlight at Their Most Brutal". Ultimate Metal webzine. Open Publishing. http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/interviews/195667-crimson-moonlight-their-most-brutal.html. Retrieved 2007-07-29.  Interview with Crimson Moonlight
6. ^ "Crimson Moonlight". Crimsonmoonlight.com. Open Publishing. 2006-04-30. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24. http://web.archive.org/web/20070624065136/http://www.crimsonmoonlight.com/cm/. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 

External links

• Crimson Moonlight Official Facebook page
• Crimson Moonlight discography at MusicBrainz
• Crimson Moonlight at Encyclopaedia Metallum
• Crimson Moonlight on Myspace