Fallen Angel Crawling Out of Hell
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
The concept album Crawling Out of Hell is the debut offering from New York band Fallen Angel. Similar to the equally concept-minded Iced Earth, it’s abundantly clear that Fallen Angel draws inspiration from classic heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. The twin lead guitar assault of John Cruppe and Robb Lotta (of Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna’s solo band) is devastating, and vocalist Steve Seniuk can go from a steady midrange to screaming for vengeance in no time flat. The crushing rhythms also bring to mind Testament’s thrash metal style.
Crawling Out of Hell, the first in a planned trilogy, is a concept album that follows Luke, a young man who gets a glimpse of Hell while in a coma and then dies, entering a sort of Purgatory. Various agents of good and evil try to use Luke’s soul as a pawn in an all-out war that spans both Heaven and Hell. The story is further detailed in an accompanying novel by Cruppe entitled Fallen Angel – Crawling Out of Hell. We’ve all seen concept albums before, but this is the first time a concept for an album has been expanded in novel form.
The most well thought out concept in the world means nothing if the music is weak. Fortunately that’s far from the case here. Crawling Out of Hell is a very compelling metal album that combines elements of traditional, power and thrash into a final product that’s fast, heavy, powerful, melodic and epic. It totally works as a collection of great songs independent of the larger concept, but the conceptual elements definitely add another dimension to these songs. You can almost smell the sulfur in “Blood on My Soul” and feel the despair in “The Neutral Zone.” There are also several brief instrumental passages, but they serve to define and enhance the album’s atmosphere rather than distract from the rest of the songs.
You can’t really talk about this album without acknowledging the packaging, specifically the inserts. The 32-page booklet features the usual credits and lyrics, but also includes key plot developments and vivid, fully painted artwork that further illustrates the story. This album is as appealing visually as it is aurally. Fallen Angel clearly went all out on this release to help Crawling Out of Hell stand out from the crowd. Here’s hoping it works.
Crawling Out of Hell is a very impressive album by a band that clearly cares a great deal about how they present themselves. This kind of quality and attention to detail is rare in young, unsigned bands, and it marks Fallen Angel as a band to watch in years to come. If you’re a fan of powerful, heavy traditional metal, particularly the Iced Earth variety, you’ll absolutely want to check out Crawling Out of Hell. Fans of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest should also find plenty to enjoy in Fallen Angel.
Genre: Traditional Metal, Power Metal
Band:
Steve Seniuk (v)
John Cruppe (g) (k) (v)
Robb Lotta (g) (v)
Joe Surace (b) (v)
Frankie Quaggs (d)
Track Listing:
1. Crash to Oblivion
2. Sinner’s Vengeance
3. March Into Hell
4. Blood on My Soul
5. The Grinding Wheels of War
6. The Reapers Shall Gather
7. Arrival
8. Dark Lord
9. Darkness
10. The One Who Walks Alone
11. The Answer
12. Respiration Desperation
13. The Neutral Zone
14. Life or Death
15. On and On
16. Ashes to Ashes
17. Leaving It All Behind
18. Watching
19. Sad Wings
20. Grant Me Peace
Label: none
Website: www.myspace.com/bandsitefallenangel
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10