Band Profile – Crippled Black Phoenix

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UK-based Crippled Black Phoenix is a modern day supergroup that includes members of Pantheist, Mogwai, Electric Wizard and 16 and performs what they call “endtime ballads” – a mix of more familiar elements left from band members association with their main bands and more esoteric folk and psychedelia influences.

Much of the band’s material came out on Geoff Barrow (Portishead) label Invada (also, a home to Amusement Parks On Fire and Ramesess, among others),  including 2007 “A Love Of Shared Disasters” and 2009 “200 Tons Of Bad Luck”.

The band started in 2004, when Justin Greaves started recording some of the ideas previously had in mind. He formed the band with Mogwai bassist Dominic Aitchison and produced their debut album “A Love Of Shared Disasters” in 2007.

In their review of the album, All Music Guide pointed that “It shouldn’t make a bit of sense, and it doesn’t in any sort of logical way, but there’s an underlying vision to A Love of Shared Disasters, a cracked singularity that keeps it from being just a random bunch of acid-fried weird ideas glued together higgledy piggledy.”

2009 saw two releases from the band at once – new album called “200 Tons Of Bad Luck” and 2 CD box set called “The Resurrectionist & Night Raider: 2007-2009 A.D.”, the material for which was recorded during various points between 2007 and 2008.

New Musical Express commented on “200 Tons Of Bad Luck” – “Foreboding monikers aside, don’t be fooled into thinking this is music for the manically depressed. The guitar-led epic soundscapes, choral chanting, woeful strings and portent keys on their debut ‘A Love Of Shared Disasters’ are still present.” Urb Magazine pointed out that “As cheesy as it sounds, 200 Tons of Bad Luck really is a soundtrack to your own life. It is built on foundations of cinematic, inspiring music, that can be molded in such a way that it really applies to anybody. The contrasts, themes, and sheer eclectics of the album make for something that any one person can listen to, and relate to.”

Members:

Andy Semmens (Pantheist)

Dominic Aitchison (Mogwai)

Joe Volk

Justin Greaves (Electric Wizard, Iron Monkey, Teeth Of Lions Rule The Divine, Varukers)

Kostas Panagiotou (Pantheist, Wijlen Wij)

Nial McGaughey (16, 3D House Of Beef)

Discography:

Sharks & Storms / Blizzard Of Horned Cats 10″ (Invada, 2006)

A Love Of Shared Disasters CD / 2xLP (Invada, 2007)

200 Tons Of Bad Luck CD (Invada, 2009)

The Resurrectionist & Night Raider: 2007-2009 A.D. 2xCD (Invada, 2009)

Compilation Tracks:

“You Take The Devil Out Of Me” on Music With Attitude – No. 97 (Rock Sound Magazine, 2007)

“Goodnight, Europe” on Rhâââ Lovely Festival 2007 (Rhâââ Lovely Festival, 2007)

“Rise Up And Fight” on Cargo Sampler #109/09 (Cargo, 2009)