Phoenix, Arizona power metal band, Crimson Reign, welcomes vocalist James Oylen as the band’s new frontman.

Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, James became a classical piano player starting at 6 years old and continuing for the next 10 years until the age of 16. He followed this period of musical growth by excelling and becoming an honor student at the prestigious Levine School of Music.

Stepping into the blossoming D.C punk scene, he became a drummer for several punk and hardcore bands while taking a shining to industrial music and legendary bands such as NIN, Skinny Puppy, Ministry and KMFDM. This led to him developing a passion for electronic music to include synthesizers, noise, industrial loops and programming until becoming the keyboardist for Naked Fringe and ending with a solo project named Interegation which released a full length record. This was further followed by a side project Yveline and a solo led effort in the form of Lucy Led Astray.

Relocating to Phoenix, Arizona, he graduated from the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences for audio production and Engineering. This led to his introduction to the Phoenix metal scene where he deputized in various bands to include local favorites Altered Silence and now his new role center stage as the mouthpiece for Crimson Reign.

Bringing a diverse set of musical influences which include Judas Priest, Motorhead, Alice in Chains, Tool and Type O Negative and mixing it with the established melodic heavy metal sounds of Crimson Reign, James promises a battering ram of full on vocal power during his soon to be legendary performances with his new band.

Titus Medina, Crimson Reign’s founding guitarist stated “There is not a doubt in my mind that great things lie ahead in the very near future. Big thanks to Anne Hernandez for making the connection."

 

 

In addition, Dan Johnson, who has played drums for Brian "Head" Welch / Love And Death since 2009 and currently in RED, will be on-board with Crimson Reign allowing the band to continue to move forward with live performances (dates coming soon) until a permanent drummer is hired that can fulfill the position.

Dan may also be recording the tracks on the next Crimson Reign album that is anticipated to be recorded in 2015.