Sceaduhelm Review: Crippled Black Phoenix Return with Dark Progressive Power

May the Crippled Black Phoenix rise again.

The prog rock and post-metal legends have struck once more with their new album Sceaduhelm, and it truly fits their name as it ticks every box. A magical ride spanning over an hour and six minutes, it spins samples, atmosphere, and a twisted epic tale into one immersive experience. Holding their progressive side close to heart, this album feels impossible to compare directly to the rest of Crippled Black Phoenix’s work since ’06.

With a theme of darkness and gloom, this album genuinely makes me feel like a plague doctor and a cowboy all mixed into one. From songs like No Epitaph to Vampire Grave, it flips the switch while still staying true to the centre of the band’s sound in experimental music.

No Epitaph

No Epitaph really captures what progressive music means to me. Eight minutes of long, low tension followed by a perfect rise. “If I could beg, I would” — deep lyrics written by Ryan M. Patterson himself, a guest vocalist, ex-and-step-in bassist, and clearly a close friend of the band. This track is exactly where I picture a lone ranger on a dark horse standing in the mist, ready to fight the vampires and ghouls of the Dark Shadow. And fittingly enough, Sceaduhelm in Old English translates to Dark Shadow.

Colder and Colder

Nothing screams “dark rock” more than Colder and Colder. The lyrics, written by Justin Greaves, tell a beautiful and haunting story. It opens with a more brutal sample before shifting into that incredible western-feeling guitar tone that immediately pulled me in. “We never had a chance to have our last dance” — lines like that stick with you. The mellow atmosphere mixed with those soaring high notes gives the song a fantastic dynamic, and honestly, it just made me want more.

Overall, this album genuinely carries some doom metal aspects for me as well, keeping everything chilled in the perfect way while holding onto that darkness throughout. Chilling, yet peaceful. Ya know?

Thank you to the lovely legends of Crippled Black Phoenix for gracing our ears once more. This album will touch people’s souls in their own little ways — but I bet you already knew that.

Keen to see where your epic tales and future endeavours take you next.

May The Riffs Guide You,
Mr Doom, Out!