One day before embarking on their European tour for which you will find a full list of dates below, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX are now premiering their first video in support of their freshly unleashed full-length 'Bronze' (out since November 4th). The clip for the track "Scared and Alone" has been created by renowned Romanian artist Costin Chioreanu. The animation revolves around the illness of depression, which is represented in song and visuals by the metaphorical "black dog" ' a slang term expressing this severe and dangerous medical condition.

Mastermind Justin Greaves comments on the song and video of "Scared and Alone":

"Costin Chioreanu has created an amazing clip. His animation fits so very well that this can only come from someone, who truly understands the feeling behind this song. It is not an easy thing to connect with so I have nothing but respect and praise for Costin. 'Scared and Alone' speaks volumes about being cut off from the outside world and other people when the "Black Dog" bites. Depression, anxiety and mental health are becoming bigger issues and when someone speaks up, it opens a door for other people to get things off their mind. Belinda wrote the lyrics as well as doing the vocals for 'Scared and Alone' and she did not need to be given any direction. As always, she took the title and the music and shaped the most real and heartfelt words into a very poetic form. I am deeply satisfied with the way everything turned out, both sonically and visually."

Artist Costin Chioreanu tells his side of the story: "No human being can ever get completely free of depression, simply because we can never be completely happy. The root of this sick behaviour pattern is our need to always increase the intensity of our life's pleasures ' regardless of the issue. We need more and more or we fall into a hole. In this state, we pretty much resemble drug addicts. This greed is amplified by society, which imposes desires on us and once our minds have been trained to function in accordance with such parameters, it becomes increasingly difficult to get back to something simple that we have either forgotten or never known to exist. The story of 'Scared and Alone' gives the complete picture of this gaping hole, the inner view of an entire life from the perspective of a person with no escape.

On further important news concerning CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, the international collective is about to embark on their European tour, which starts tomorrow in Manchester, United Kingdom. The show at Sound Control as well as for the rest of this heavy rocking road-trip will be joined by PUBLICIST UK and THE DEVILS TRADE.

Regarding the forthcoming tour, Justin Greaves states:

"It is always an adventure to go out on tour. Besides supporting our new album that alone is a good reason to do this. This time we are going to play more new material than we usually do, which is testament to how we feel about 'Bronze'. We are all excited to play these new songs live. The billing is also really appealing to me personally as we will be touring with PUBLICIST UK and THE DEVILS TRADE ' and we had to work hard to make that happen. I believe that our crowd will dig these guys and the package will give everybody a memorable evening. Looking forward to this one and see you there!"

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX
+PUBLICIST UK +THE DEVIL'S TRADE

08 Dec 16 Manchester (UK) Sound Control
09 Dec 16 London (UK) Dome
10 Dec 16 Nijmegen (NL) Doornroosje
11 Dec 16 Wiesbaden (DE) Schlachthof
12 Dec 16 Nürnberg (DE) Z-Bau
13 Dec 16 Zürich (CH) Werk 21
14 Dec 16 München (DE) Feierwerk, Kranhalle
15 Dec 16 Budapest (HU) Dürer Kert
16 Dec 16 Wien (AT) Arena
17 Dec 16 Tübingen (DE) Sudhaus
18 Dec 16 Dresden (DE) Scheune
19 Dec 16 Warszawa (PL) Progresja
20 Dec 16 Berlin (DE) Lido
21 Dec 16 Köln (DE) Underground

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX at Roadburn
20 Apr 17 Tilburg (NL) O13

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX will be touring in support of their latest album 'Bronze', which has been release on November 4th.

Mastermind Justin Greaves commented:

"Releasing an album is a weird experience, both excitement and trepidation fill the mind. With 'Bronze' however, it is mostly the former. I am proud of what we have achieved. The album represents a shift towards a stronger future and a big two finger salute to the past couple of years of upheaval. It finds CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX sounding at our best in both production values and pure feeling within the music. So, the old cliche of 'what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger' is definitely applicable in this case. Although 'Bronze' is not the most ambitious album CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX have ever made, it in fact surpasses that by being full of emotions, much like the 'No Sadness Or Farewell' or even 'I,Vigilante'. Yet do not think it is backwards looking. That is simply not in our DNA - instead it reflects the vibe and situation, we find ourselves in the present and that in turn shows the future is going to be an interesting journey. This time it is feelings and raw sound that powers the album even in the more 'progressive' sounding songs. It is slightly more heavy, a little darker, but as honest as CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX gets. This is what is important to us these days in an age where music is generally full of cheap tricks and trendy marketing."

Tracklist:

01. Dead Imperial Bastard
02. Deviant Burials
03. No Fun
04. Rotten Memories
05. Champions Of Disturbance (Pt 1 & 2)
06. Goodbye Then
07. Turn To Stone
08. Scared And Alone
09. Winning A Losing Battle
10. We Are The Darkeners

Bronze consists primarily of copper, but it is the inclusion of other metals and non-metals that gives this alloy its specific characteristics. Ever since mankind discovered the secret of its making thousands of years ago, the golden and shining bronze has changed the course of history, spawned destruction and war, yet also been crafted into desired objects of extreme beauty.

You will find each of these traits inherent in the sixth studio album of CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, which is aptly taking its title from this fateful alloy. Instead of copper, dark rock forms the base ingredient in this musical amalgamation process, but it is the addition of metal, progressive influences, gothic, wave, even pop, and many other elements as well as a changing cast of musicians that result in each song shining with its own individual hue and tone. Yet a deep sense of anguish, despair, longing, loss, melancholy, and nostalgia forms a binding force that holds 'Bronze' together and formulates an encompassing theme.

This musical darkness is reflected in the lyrical themes dominating the record, which partly revolve around battling inner demons and resisting oppression. The constant struggle comes as no surprise when taking into account that poetic mastermind Justin Greaves has recently gone public about his personal fight against severe depression. For him, not letting the "black dog" devour you is a big message mixed within his songs.

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX have always confounded critics trying to pin their style down ever since multi-instrumentalist Justin Greaves recorded his first ideas in 2004 ' which earned them tagging attempts ranging from "stoner prog" to "freak folk" to "psychedelic doom". Despite the wide range of musical leanings within their albums, there are a unifying dark streak and sombre melancholy running through the songs. Founder Justin Greaves had already made himself a name as drummer for IRON MONKEY and ELECTRIC WIZARD among others. When the multi-instrumentalist finally decided to stand on his own musical feet, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX was born as a project. This involves a changing cast of musicians and live set-ups, which mirror the ever ongoing evolution of the band and the fact that the songs were mostly not composed with their live performance on mind.

Between 2007 and 2014, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX released a string of five critically highly acclaimed studio albums ' from 'A Love of Shared Disasters' (2007), via 'The Resurrectionists' (2009), 'Night Raider' (2009), '(Mankind) The Crafty Ape' (2012), until 'White Light Generator' (2014). This was complemented by EPs 'I, Vigilante' (2010), 'No Sadness or Farewell' (2012), and 'Oh' Ech-oes' (2015), the live recording 'Live Poznan' (2013), and the '200 Tons of Bad Luck' compilation (2009). Their 'New Dark Age Tour EP 2015 A.D.' was the band's first release on Season of Mist that came with an extensive homage to PINK FLOYD. The strong influence of the UK rock giants can still be felt on 'Bronze', yet while CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX never denied their roots, this outstanding act has long created their own sonic cosmos and now takes it a dimension further. Be warned that 'Bronze' will infect you with a most deep fascination. Shine on!

'Bronze' was recorded at Chapel Studio and mixed with Karl Daniel Lidén.

Line-up
Justin Greaves: guitar, backing vocals, saw, samples, bass & drums (studio)
Mark Furnevall: synthesizer, keyboard, organ, sound manipulation
Daniel Änghede: vocals

Addiditional musicians
Daisy Chapman: piano
Ben Wilsker: drums (live)
Jonas Stålhammar: guitar, hammond, synth
Belinda Kordic: vocals, banshee, lead vocalist on " Scared And Alone"
Tom Greenway: bass

Guest musicians
Chrissie Caulfield: violin, harp, fog horn
Arthur Young: piano
Arvid Jonsson: vocals on "Turn To Stone"
Robert Holm: trumpets

https://www.crippledblackphoenix.co.uk/