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CRIMSON GLORY “Chasing the Hydra”
CRIMSON GLORY “Chasing the Hydra”
By Colonel Angus
I have been waiting for this release since the band gave us a teaser back in 2023 with the single "Triskaideka". That single spurred on my obsession with the band and I have had their music in heavy rotation on all of my devices ever since. I will also admit that I was hoping that “Chasing the Hydra” would live up to past glories because there is nothing worse than having an older unit get back together only to release a subpar record. Happily, that is not the case here.
The album starts off with a pretty heavy tune that really embraces the prog metal genre with multiple layers each telling a different section of the whole story. Right away, CRIMSON GLORY embraces the present in part while still keeping their legacy sound intact. “Redden the Sun” doesn’t warm you up with any intro but instead nails you right between the eyes with heavy riffing. New vocalist Travis Wills honors Midnight’s legacy but instead of copying him, he gives us a performance that captures more of “his” voice. The title track is next and again we are pummeled with relentless riffing that morphs into epic territory before the chorus. Again the band manage to update their sound a little without steering too far away from the music that made them so special.
For the next tune “Broken Together”, the band sticks so close to their earlier sound that this track could have been something that was a bonus tune on “Transcendence”. It starts off very mellow and moody but quickly works itself into a prog metal masterpiece. “Angel in My Nightmare” starts off again in slow moody fashion but then bursts into an epic in the same way DIO used light and shade to create drama in their music. This track is definitely a standout in a record full of standouts. For “Indelible Ashes”, the band goes for a sound that is closer to their “Astronomica” album which shows while they move forward, they still manage to curate from all aspects of their legacy.
The record continues with a track that, while retaining the band’s signature prog metal sound, incorporates a rich sense of melody, resulting in one of the most memorable and accessible moments on the album. “Beyond the Unknown” stands out as a strong candidate for the next single from “Chasing the Hydra”, pairing an immediately engaging melody with just enough of the band’s signature sound to satisfy longtime listeners while remaining accessible. The next couple of tunes take on a more modern approach that showcases the band progressing forward with “Armor Against Fate” still having one foot planted in the past. It contains enough of the prog metal elements we expect from the group but wraps it up in a nice modern production that brings things nicely to 2026. Conversely, “Pearls of Dust” is more straight-forward in structure and goes for a more brooding atmosphere. It’s tracks like these that give the album some variety while still sticking to their lane.
The disk ends with the track that we were gifted in 2023, "Triskaideka". This moody prog metal workout has gotten better with age and is the cherry on top of this album. I have to give special mention to new vocalist Travis Wills who puts in an amazing performance. He had some big shoes to fill and he has exceeded expectations for this release. There’s always a lingering concern that a comeback might fall short of expectations, but Chasing the Hydra meets the standard set by the band’s earlier material leaving fans like myself to wonder how they could possibly surpass it next time. 2026 has just started as we have only completed the first quarter but so far, this is my number one album of the year.
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