Band:	Crimson Glory
Album:	Transcendence
Style:	Progressive heavy metal
Release date:	November 1988

01. Lady Of Winter
02. Red Sharks
03. Painted Skies
04. Masque Of The Red Death
05. In Dark Places
06. Where Dragons Rule
07. Lonely
08. Burning Bridges
09. Eternal World
10. Transcendence

Well, what can be said about this album? It is truly hard for me to put into words what Transcendence really is. Being released in the same year as some of metals most cherished masterpieces of all time like, for example, Queensrÿche's Operation: Mindcrime or Helloween's Keepr Of The Seven Keys Pt. II, this Crimson Glory gem was really overlooked, despite the high ratings.

The album boasts 10 tracks; Now, normally, I would highlight the best songs of the release, but in this case it is frankly impossible as all of them truly are equally magnificent, and magnificent is an understatement. Midnight's (R.I.P.) out-of-this-world vocals linger in one's mind and haunt their dreams forever after hearing the very first song, which is "Lady Of Winter." The voice of this prodigy of a singer is something unreal, mesmerizing the listeners with its incomparable high-pitch screams. Midnight's outstanding work on Transcendence understandably shadows the effort of other members of the band, but Jon Drenning's and Ben Jackson's guitar riffs, melodies and solos are so breathtaking that they are never left unnoticed. The fact that the drumming is a combination of live and sample versions does not affect the sound at all. Plus, the production is more than satisfying.

Furthermore, I would like to point out that the 10-track Transcendence is a perfect blend of fast songs and slower ballads. Take, for example, the extremely melodic "Lonely" and then the energetic "Red Sharks." The latter one is based on political motives, while "Lonely" speaks of a persons inner feelings, love, and sleepless nights. Furthermore, some songs on the album tell us about mythical creatures and fantasy, an example being "Where Dragons Rule." In conclusion, lyrically, Transcendence is very diverse, which makes it even more attractive.

I don't know what else to say other than it's an absolute bliss to listen to this celestial music. It is a must-have for any metalhead out there, as this 1988 Crimson Glory masterpiece truly is one of the finest releases in the history of the genre. If Transcendence is not a perfect album, then I don't know what is.