The Crimson Armada was an American deathcore band from Columbus, Ohio. The band initially formed in Westerville, Ohio in 2007, but after several live shows and demos the band went on hiatus. After pressure from the local music scene, the group reformed a year later. According to Allmusic, the band has found itself "on a meteoric rise through the extreme metal world." The band's lyrics contain spiritual themes and the band has members who are Christian. However, the band's songwriter and lead vocalist Saud Ahmed has stated that the band is not Christian, as the band has never written a song about Jesus.
History[]
Formation and Guardians (2007 - 2010)[]
The band originally formed in Westerville, Ohio in 2007 but after releasing several demos and playing some live shows with bands like The Black Dahlia Murder and It Prevails, the band went on hiatus in early 2008. At the urging of the local music scene however, The Crimson Armada reformed in 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. In the summer of 2008, the group inked a deal with Metal Blade Records, and in July, 2009, the band released its debut album, Guardians. Following the album's release, the band went on several tours with acts such as The Chariot, and MyChildren MyBride. In the Summer of 2010 the group headed out on the Scream the Prayer Tour. They closed out the album's touring cycle in the fall of 2010 the "Monument Tour".
Conviction and Break-up (2011 - 2012)[]
In January 2011, The Crimson Armada signed a new record deal with Artery Recordings, and has announced a new album entitled Conviction that was scheduled for release on June 21, 2011.
Their style changed a lot from their debut album. The guitars are darker, there's a more recognizable structure in most songs and their new guitarist Brandon McMaster implemented clean vocals, mostly used in or around the choruses of the songs, a well known element from the metalcore genre. The album also features well known metalcore vocalist Andy Adkins of A Plea for Purging and Levi Benton of Miss May I.
According to Alternative Press, The Crimson Armada is scheduled to play on April 14 at the 13th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, a three day festival. They are also set for a summer tour with MyChildren MyBride, Impending Doom and This Or the Apocalypse. In February 2012, Brandon McMaster left the band, stating that The Crimson Armada was "too much metal for one band." He was replaced by current lead guitarist Cye Marshall.
On October 29, 2012 the band announced that lead vocalist Saud's side project The Holy Guile had become a full-time band with new members, and that The Crimson Armada would not be putting out another album.
Band Members[]
Final Line-up[]
- Saud Ahmed - unclean vocals (2006 - 2008 and 2008 - 2012)
- Cye Marshall - lead guitar and clean vocals (2012)
- Michael Cooper - bass guitar (2012)
- Dan Hatfield - rhythm guitar (2006 - 2008 and 2008 - 2012)
- Jordan Matz - drums and percussion (2011 - 2012)
Former Members[]
- Brandon McMaster - lead guitar and clean vocals (2011 - 2012)
- Josh Jardim - lead guitar (2009 - 2011)
- Kyle Barrington - lead guitar (2006 - 2008 and 2008 - 2009)
- Kevin Lankford - bass guitar (2011 - 2012)
- Chris Yates - bass guitar and backing vocals (2008 - 2011)
- Scott Ulliman - bass guitar (2006 - 2008)
- David Puckett - drums (2006 - 2008 and 2008 - 2011)
Discography[]
Studio Albums[]
- Guardians (Metal Blade Records, July 7, 2009)
- Conviction (Artery Recordings, June 21, 2011)
Extended Plays[]
- Behold the Architect (Self-Released, 2008)
References[]
- http://heavymetal.about.com/od/c/gr/thecrimsonarmada-guardians.htm
- http://www.hmmagazine.com/2010/07/scream-the-prayer-2010/
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-crimson-armada-mn0001075680
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/guardians-mw0000820986
- http://www.myspace.com//thecrimsonarmada/blog/451667518
- http://saudapop.tumblr.com/post/2461689129/is-the-crimson-armada-a-christian-band-i-read-ur
- http://www.myspace.com/thecrimsonarmada
- http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=152436
- http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?s=87914c04a70aec3339d9338fedb3626f&t=2263412
- http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/job_for_a_cowboy_bury_your_dead_biohazard_more_playing_new_england_metal_an/
- https://www.facebook.com/brandon.mcmaster.9?sk=info
- http://www.facebook.com/TCAband/posts/523680240994138