Satan’s history is storied, their albums and incendiary live shows, iconic. The Newcastle, England-bred lineup may quip that their career has been “44 years of prolonged mayhem with a 20-year lunch break”—forming in 1980, eventually pausing before reuniting in 2011—but circa 2024 finds the band thriving, writing, recording, and touring at the top of their game. Proof positive is their seventh studio album, and third for Metal Blade, Songs in Crimson.
Satan formed back in 1979, one of the heavier proponents of the NWOBHM movement, they released their first single in 1982. They hail from Newcastle along with fellow heavy weights Venom, Raven and Avenger. These Northern bands played on the cutting edge of heavy music at the time, in a style that in retrospect could be considered “proto-thrash”.
Satan put out two records in the 80s, both of which are widely considered cult classics amongst the heavy metal underground. However they were never propelled to the level of contemporaries like Iron Maiden or Saxon and towards the end of the decade, Satan split up and faded into obscurity like many others. (Though I should note their late 80s lineup, short of singer Brian Ross, did put out three further albums under the name Pariah).
This was not, however the end for Satan, whose classic “Court in the Act” lineup reformed in 2011, putting out “Life Sentence”, their first album in 25 years, in 2013. Since then they have built a reputation as one of the strongest classic heavy metal bands, both on stage and in the studio. In my view they have one of the strongest post-80s discographies of any classic metal band, alongside fellow NWOBHM veterans Pagan Altar and Angel Witch. With that said, I was keen to hear this latest offering.
Songs in Crimson track-listing:
1 Frantic Zero
2 Era (The Day Will Come)
3 Whore of Babylon
4 Sacramental Rites
5 Martyrdom
6 Turn the Tide 04:060
7 Captives
8 Curse in Disguise
9 Truth Bullet
10 Deadly Crimson
The music here continues in a similar vein to Satan’s other post-reformation work. It’s heavy/ speed metal that verges towards thrash in places, perhaps even more so than on previous albums. There are moments here that bring to mind Satan’s NWOBHM roots, but for the most part it more recalls the work of USPM bands like Liege Lord or Helstar, fitting perhaps as that movement was almost certainly influenced by Satan.
The album can certainly be identified as a 21st century recording but the production retains an organic feel to it all the same, especially if you were to put it side by side with clinically produced modern metal records, done by the likes of Andy Sneap. The lead guitars in particular here, have a mean, rough
around the edges sound that rules.
Lyrically the album largely revolves around war, societal collapse and Armageddon. In places I found they veered into the cheesy and clunky but for the most part these are effective heavy metal lyrics. Much like their work in the 80s, political unrest in Britain and the looming threat of global conflict are the backdrop here, some things never change!
The highlight here for me is “Turn the Tide”, which more than any other song here, captures the power and might that great heavy should make the listener feel.
Kicking straight in with aggressive speed metal riffing and a brief solo, the song has a catchy chorus and medieval-ish lyrics from the perspective of a tyrannical king. The latter half of the song then takes an unexpected turn into full on thrash territory.
All said, I can’t see “Songs in Crimson” replacing “Court in the Act” as my go to Satan album. That said this is a fun, energetic album with some memorable high points. No mean feat for a band more than 40 years into their career and with their classic first album lineup still intact. Are there any other classic metal bands that can boast of similar? I’ve struggled to think of any.
If you’re a fan of real heavy metal but feel let down by the lacklustre recent output of big names like Maiden, Saxon and Priest, then this may be the album for you. I look forward to seeing which cuts from it they choose to play in Dublin this Sunday (8th September).
Recommended for fans of: Mercyful Fate, Angel Witch, Cloven Hoof.
I’m giving ”Songs In Crimson” 7/10 stars
Reviewer – Chris Coxon ( You can catch Chris DJing a pre session in the Foggy Dew Dublin before the Dublin show from 4pm)