Crimson Storm first formed in Sardinia, Italy in 2009 under the leadership of Lögan Heads, the band’s main songwriter. After several line-up changes, EPs, and a move to Spain, Crimson Storm presents their debut album, Livin’ on the Bad Side, courtesy of Fighter Records.

Over a taut 33 minutes, Crimson Storm sounds like an alternate-reality Iron Maiden that never abandoned its street tough attitude from the first two albums, learned a lot from America’s Riot, and still pulled Bruce Dickinson into the fold. Add a dash of 80s power metal glory and some of the ferocity of speed and thrash metal, and you’ve got a NWOBHM fan’s platonic ideal of early 80s heavy metal worship. First, the elephant in the room: yes, vocalist Pau Correas sounds a lot like Bruce Dickinson. This facet of the band’s sound is both obviously a plus (he is, after all, one of the most hallowed names in all heavy metal history) and potentially a negative, were the case that Crimson Storm’s sound came down to nothing but rehashing the glory days of Iron Maiden (or Riot, for that matter). Luckily, the band pulls off much more than idol worship. With Livin’ on the Bad Side, Crimson Storm offers up a compelling and concise slab of speed metal, proto-thrash, and US-style power metal that never lets up and rarely feels old, even if it does look back to the ‘80s for inspiration. It’s easy to see how so many of these songs have been honed over many years, having appeared on previous EPs and singles. There’s really not a minute wasted here: Livin’ on the Bad Side is pure fun through and through.

Review

Night of the Tyrant opens out the album with twin guitar licks that immediately set the moody atmosphere of the album into place. A bit of a false start, the track winds down quickly into synth noodling before the album gets its proper start with Raging Eyes of Darkness, a heater that introduces the album’s signature anthemic shouted choruses and Correas’s Dickinsonian vocal acrobatics. Despite what I’ve said before, Correas isn’t a complete dead-ringer for Bruce: there’s a Basque flair to the delivery that tinges many of the lines, adding nice character to otherwise impressive and tuneful singing. The song picks up to a quick gallop, and crescendos with a high energy guitar solo that recalls 80s neon lights.

Outrageous comes out of the gates swinging with a speed metal riff that launches the track into a galloping verse. The punky energy of this song is completed with Correas’s perfect wail on the choruses. Everything about this song gives the impression that it was recorded by the band all on motorcycles blazing down a dimly lit highway. Speed and attitude drip from the vocals and guitars on the verses. The way the guitar solo and the rhythm section move together back and forth from double time to single keeps the song dynamic and interesting. A stand-out track for sure.

Up next is Abuse of Power, one of the singles available before the album was released, and for damn good reason. Another speed metal-inflected ripper, this track keeps the energy and guitar fireworks high. Vocal harmonies accentuate the earworm chorus and, I must say, this one owes the biggest debt to Maiden, and that is a compliment for sure. Still, I don’t think Maiden ever wrote anything quite this fast. One could do much worse than speed metal Maiden!

Nightmare Deceiver finds Crimson Storm taking the speed down here to a mid-tempo swagger, and it is a perfect shift from what has come before it. The slower (but not slow) pace allows the shouted refrains and belted lyrics to come to the forefront. The riff is also one of the catchiest guitar moments on the album. After repeat listens, I find this song is one that I look forward to the most and one that I remember best after the album concludes.

Speed Hammerin’ Metal, true to name, blasts back into high gear with a tasty drum fill. You gotta love those reverbed out drums. Another rollicking, galloping speed metal smoker, the track features some of Correas’s best belting and wailing. The track also slips smoothly into a head bobbing riff that leads to two guitar solos that also show off the perfectly in-sync rhythm section. It’s hard not to listen to this track with fist raised.

Harakiri Rendez Vous, like Nightmare Deceiver, opts for a slower tempo to kick things off, with some reverb-drenched picked guitar chords that set the mood of a late-night bar. However, the song then picks up into a more upbeat but still mid-tempo jam. One of the finest guitar solos comes in about halfway through the track, adding some rock and roll attitude. Crimson Storm knows exactly how to place these solos and bridges all throughout the album, but this solo followed by an instrumental break is one of my favorites on Livin’ on the Bad Side. The pacing of the album is also perfectly crafted, with these slower tracks coming in to let the listener catch their breath from the faster tunes. Speaking of which…

Headfukker is purely awesome. The most dangerous, baddest ass song on the album, this one kicks off with a molten speed metal riff that leads into Correas’s most righteous wail on the album. The whole gang seemingly gets together to chant the song’s title over double bass and driving guitar. On repeat listens, this one loses only a little of its luster and none of its fun. Try raising a clenched fist and yelling “headfukker” right along with them for maximum effect.

Among the other things they do well, Crimson Storm knows how to close out an album. Seven Days of Mayhem concludes the album with a Spanish language banger that feels even more locked-in than the rest of the album. Pol Esteban’s drums really shine through here, leading the track from one blazing fast riff right to another and stealing the show with some fills about halfway through. Like the rest of the album, this song also doesn’t overstay its welcome, getting in, ripping through some high-octane riffs, and going out with Correas’s signature wail.

Conclusion

If I were pressed to think of something critical to say about Livin’ on the Bad Side, I would say that it does have such a consistent tone to it that repeat listens wear away a little of the magic. But much magic there is: Livin’ on the Bad Side has all the calling cards of great 80s British heavy metal, from galloping drums, bluesy and shredding guitars, gang chanted refrains, compelling vocals, and fist pumping choruses. The pacing and structure of the album is expertly crafted to keep the listening experience dynamic. The quick bursts of speed of the songs and short run time of the album lends to repeat listens, and there are no duds here. It’s fun, energetic, and catchy. In all, a brief ride on the bad side that I just want to keep taking.

TheNwothm Score: 8/10

Links

Bandcamp: https://crimsonstorm.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrimsonStormOfficial/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimsonstorm_official/

Label: https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/

Out 14 January 2025

Line-up:
Pau Correas – Vocals
Lögan Heads – Guitar / Backing Vocals
Aless Oppossed – Bass / Backing Vocals
Pol Esteban – Drums