What makes Crimson by Edge of Sanity notable?

The album is notable for its ambitious structure, with the title track being a single 40-minute piece that showcases the band's unique blend of progressive elements within death metal. Crimson received critical acclaim upon release, highlighting its complex arrangements and lyrical depth, making it influential in shaping the landscape of progressive metal in the late '90s. It has been cited as a significant work that inspired subsequent artists in both the death and progressive metal scenes. Crimson is Edge of Sanity's fifth studio album, released in 1996 during a pivotal moment in their career. Following the commercial success of their previous album, Purgatory Afterglow, this release further solidified their reputation as innovators within the progressive death metal genre. It marked a shift towards more ambitious songwriting and long-form compositions, particularly exemplified by the title track.

How many songs are on Crimson?

Crimson has 2 tracks, running approximately 43 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

Crimson

Edge of Sanity · 1996

43 min · 2 tracks · death metal

A sprawling, atmospheric journey through death metal's darkest corners, blending intricate melodies with relentless aggression.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Crimson — As the centerpiece of the album, this 40-minute track intertwines various musical themes, showcasing Edge of Sanity's mastery in creating a cohesive narrative arc through complex instrumentation and shifting dynamics.
→
Murder. Divided. — This shorter track contrasts sharply with the title piece, delivering a brutal intensity that encapsulates the band's death metal roots while still incorporating melodic elements, showcasing their versatility.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

68 /100

Alpine

Higher than 93% of albums we've rated

Crimson's ambitious structure and blend of styles make it a standout in death metal, though its impact remains niche.

What we noticed

The title track, 'Crimson', is a continuous 40-minute composition that shifts through multiple sections, blending melodic passages with aggressive riffs.
The second track, 'Murder. Divided.', contrasts the first by being a more traditional song structure, clocking in at just under four minutes.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 9/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Crimson 40:03
2 Murder. Divided. 3:17

What to play next

Listen next

Cryptic

1997

Go back to

Purgatory Afterglow

1994

Full Edge of Sanity discography Artists like Edge of Sanity

death metal progressive metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata