BraveWords.com's Mark Gromen reports on Florida-based melodic metal legends CRIMSON GLORY's headlining performance at the ProgPower USA X festival on September 11th at the Center Stage in Atlanta, GA:

The dressing room was a hive of activity, what with all the guest vocalists, their significant others and non-performing well-wishers, like KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo. The stereo was blasting Crimson classics, with a purpose, as the likes of Sean Peck (CAGE), Nils K. Rue (PAGAN’S MIND) and Urban Breed (ex-TAD MOROSE/BLOODBOUND) all practising their contributions, some for the first time, with guitarist/mastermind Jon Drenning. Drummer Dana Burnell was in charge of writing out what must have been the most complicated set list ever, as Jeff Lords paced around, air fingering an imaginary bass. Wade Black and Ben Jackson, always the two most social members of the band, worked the room, along with David Vanlanding (ex-MSG, sang with Black on Astronomica).

To start the show, Crimson Glory ran through five Astronomica cuts (‘War Of The Worlds’, ‘New World Machine’, the title cut, ‘Edge Of Forever’ and ‘Touch The Sun’) led by Black, with Vanlanding adding backing vocals from one side of the stage, Drenning’s wife, Danaë Saree on the opposite. JON OLIVA’S PAIN guitarist Matt Laporte was seated behind the blond Vanlanding and Jackson, adding a third guitar to the proceedings. For south Florida guys you couldn’t be more pale, even if hiding behind masks! By the final number, Vanlanding wandered from his stationary position, to join Black at the front of the stage. Their evening done, the curtain was re-drawn for a short changeover of personnel.

For the remainder of the evening, a tandem of vocalists shared the spotlight simultaneously. Some were afforded a pair of songs, others just one. The next ten tracks were presented chronologically, half from their ’86 debut (‘Mayday’, ‘Queen Of The Masquerade’ with slinky, masked female dancer, ‘Valhalla’, ‘Azrael’ and ‘Dragon Lady’) aired prior to the Transcendence material: ‘Where Dragons Rule’, ‘Lady Of Winter’, ‘Painted Skies’, ‘Masque Of The Red Death’ and ‘Red Sharks’. As Drenning announced, “It’s taken 17 vocalists to replace one guy!” It was great to hear the music again, Jackson and Drenning obviously enjoying the interaction, but not every vocalist (while talented tacticians) was a thrill and some were certainly more prepared than others. Highlights included Andy B. Franck (BRAINSTORM) on ‘Azrael’, the first one with emotion to truly feel like a tribute. Rob Rock (IMPELLITTERI/DRIVER) and Lance King (AVIAN) did a fine job on ‘Lady Of Winter’ and anything Nils K Rue touches seems to come up aces (having previously covered Crimson Glory at the great ProgPower all-star karaoke showcase), including ‘Masque Of The Red Death’, with Breed, and a screeching ‘Red Sharks’ alongside Peck, who Drenning joked, “I saw (Cage) earlier and I still can’t hear!”

‘In Dark Places’ and ‘Lonely’ served as an encore, until a video (finally cued up after technological miscues) of the recently deceased Midnight, singing ‘Lost Reflections’ was a nice (if unexpected) touch. They ended with ‘Eternal World’. Rumor has it that plans were afoot to learn some Strange And Beautiful material, but the late re-recruitment of bassist Lords hampered any such idea. As is, it was already a little too long and not sure how many people REALLY wanted to hear something from their most controversial/contentious album, particularly late into the first evening of a multi-day affair. Hopefully the band will use this as a catalyst for more shows as a single, cohesive unit and possibly new recordings.

Rest in peace John McDonald/Midnight.

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Midnight (real name John Patrick McDonald Jr.) passed away on Wednesday, July 8th at 3:30am EST due to kidney and liver failure. He was 47 years old. Midnight is featured on Crimson Glory's first three albums: Crimson Glory (1986), Transcendence (1988) and Strange And Beautiful (1991).