Crimson Glory announces new vocalist!

Florida-based metallers CRIMSON GLORY have announced Todd La
Torre as their new lead vocalist and frontman to lead them into the
next era. The decision was made official on April 29, 2010.

Commented
lead guitarist Jon Drenning: "We (the band) all sat down and
discussed the idea, and all agreed that Todd was a perfect fit.
He embodies so many of the qualities that made [late CRIMSON GLORY
singer] Midnight such a superb singer/songwriter. In Todd,
we have found a healthy, light-hearted, happy-go-lucky character with a
winning personality and a true love and passion for what he does and
the music he creates. He amazed us from the get-go, and it is the
general opinion of the band that, with Todd La Torre, CRIMSON
GLORY will sound as good, if not better than ever.

"We, as a
band, have had the opportunity to work with some extremely talented
singers (Midnight, David Van Landing and Wade Black).
Ultimately we agreed that a relatively unknown singer would be
beneficial; Todd is a blank canvas in the sense that he doesn't
have any other prior musical history that could affect the overall sound
that defines CRIMSON GLORY. The fact that he is a local talent
with exceptional vocal and songwriting skills made this the ideal
situation and most suitable to our creative endeavors for the future."

Added
bassist Jeff Lords: "It's refreshing to know that in a highly
competitive industry, one that is seemingly operating in an uncaring,
indifferent universe, that plain ol' good luck can come around at just
the right time, as Todd is the perfect addition to CRIMSON
GLORY, and he is someone with whom I truly look forward to
collaborating."

Stated drummer Dana Burnell: "I feel
great about Todd joining the band. His ability to sing the
vintage songs is unmatched. I've had the pleasure of hearing him sing
over some of our original recorded tracks as well as in rehearsals,
where the very first night he blew me away.

"Since Midnight's
death, myself and the other surviving members of CRIMSON GLORY
have really strengthened our bond; we are closer than we've ever been,
and now with the addition of Todd I'm extremely excited about the
band's future."

Commented guitarist Ben Jackson: "Todd
is a very talented singer who expresses himself incredibly well. I'm
looking forward to working together and breaking new ground with CRIMSON
GLORY. I would also like to offer my very best wishes to my friend
Wade Black, who in my opinion, is a tremendous vocalist and
frontman, and will always be part of the CRIMSON GLORY family."

La
Torre made his first (and as yet only) public appearance with CRIMSON
GLORY at ProgPower USA X as one of seventeen guest
performers (including Wade Black, vocalist on the "Astronomica"
album and subsequent European tour, and David Van Landing, who
replaced Midnight briefly for the "Strange and Beautiful"
U.S. tour) paying tribute to Midnight, the band's original
singer.

Midnight passed away late last year due to
long-term health complications.

Essentially unknown to the
mainstream progressive metal scene, La Torre spent 22 years
earning his stripes and solidifying himself as an unquestionable talent
behind the drum kit of various hard rock and heavy metal projects in the
Tampa Bay, Florida area; however, his vocal aspirations went largely
unfulfilled until last year when Matt LaPorte (JON OLIVA'S
PAIN), who had only heard La Torre sing on a few occasions,
casually mentioned to Drenning that he might make a nice addition
to the already stellar lineup of performers the band had accumulated.
It was only a short time later that La Torre found himself at the
band's rehearsal studio, and the pieces began to fall into place.

The
members of CRIMSON GLORY also commented on singer Wade Black's
involvement with the band thus far, and on continuing without Black
as the frontman of CRIMSON GLORY.

"It should be noted
that Wade was very respectful to Todd and made him feel at
home," the group states. "That spoke volumes to us about him as a
person and his strong character. He was accommodating and a gentleman
in every sense of the word.

"We truly appreciate Wade's
outstanding contribution as a member of CRIMSON GLORY and on his
performance on the 'Astromonica' album. He has been an integral
part of the CRIMSON GLORY legacy; replacing Midnight was
no small task and he accomplished it admirably and with all of his heart
while adding his own sound and style to our music. It was difficult
for him to have to come in and sing an album bearing the weight of the
scrutiny and expectations of Midnight loyal fan base on his
shoulders, but he managed to get the job done with flying colors both in
the studio and live onstage. We're also extremely proud of the
accomplishments that Wade has achieved since then with his other
projects.

"Wade will always be a part of our family and
we hope to share the stage with him in the future when the opportunity
presents itself. However, at this point in the band's history, it's time
to go in a new direction, and we are united in feeling that Todd
would be a more ideal fit for the sound and style we wish to create and
help us advance far into the future."

Drenning also hints
at an upcoming European tour dates, as well as new material: "We are
presently making plans to head to Europe this winter for a short roster
of shows before kicking off the spring/summer tour season. Dates will
be forthcoming as the time nears, but we're definitely looking forward
to stretching our CRIMSON GLORY wings, getting back out on the
road and showcasing Todd to our fans across the globe. Indeed, Midnight
is irreplaceable in our hearts, but I have absolute faith that our fans
will come to appreciate and love Todd as we have, and without a
doubt will see what we saw that first night, and at ProgPower,
and in the months since then." Drenning adds, "The band has just
started working with Todd writing some amazing new music that I
believe our fans will truly enjoy; it is CRIMSON GLORY in every
sense of the word and then some, and Todd La Torre is the voice
that will carry us onward through this new millennium."

Call the band something else..............that's just my opinion though..

Why do that? It's the same band with a different singer. Still Crimson Glory.

They've been going by CG with other singers already so why change now? I'm excited about this, hope it's good.

TheNazgul wrote:

They've been going by CG with other singers already so why change now? I'm excited about this, hope it's good.

I hope it's good,too.

If you go to Blabbermouth, there is a few video's there with the new guy singing. He sounds amazing and gives hope for these guys.

Cause. Midnight is dead and 'Astronomica' by and large was not good. I do want to hear new music, just think the name should be retired. Eh.

Um...who?

Never heard of the guy, but as CG is one of my all time faves (yes, I even liked ASTRONOMICA and STRANGE & BEAUTIFUL! I'm a fanboy!) I hope this works out.

Quote :

Drenning also hints at an upcoming European tour dates, as well as new material

I'll believe that "new material" part when I see it. Glaciers move faster than this band. Besides, when ASTRONOMICA came out we heard the same "we're back in full force and we're in it for the long haul" and blah blah blah, and that was eleven freakin years ago already....

Oh man... Thank god it wasn't Wade Black again. His voice got on my nerves.

HOLY CRAP! I just heard those 2 songs you were talking about Lurideth. Freaking amazing, almost identicle to Midnight. Thats haunting.

Here they are....

Dragon Lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uAlfHGnAv8&feature=player_embedded

In Dark Places
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9y36-6XRpg&feature=player_embedded

^^^ Damn! That sounded bad ass!

Great news!

Hopefully Wade and Spitz's band will be good too.

This is great news for me since I am a huge CG fan. IMO, Astronomica was as good as any of their classic material so I wouldn't write them off just yet.

Cool ! Never heard of the guy but he sounds phenomenal. I too feel Astronomica was great so I'm looking forward to anything that may come.

Sounds good on the old stuff..

DRAGON LADY WANTS TO EAT (meet?) YOU

This guys sounds awesome! Where did they find this dude?

Man, this dude smokes! His story reminds me of that movie "Rock Star" with Mark Wahlberg. Kind of the same type of story line how this no-name singer from nowhere breaks in with a legendary band and rips it up!

I am loving what I am hearing!

Holy smoke, that ws close to Midnight!

I didn't mind Wade Black but wow, this guys is a Midnight clone.

Of course, it isn't like being called a clone of Midnight could be an insult.

What's the point of having this guy when he sounds exactly like Midnight? It's better to just get somebody different... like Udo Dirkschneider.

maybe you would be just as good

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:

maybe you would be just as good

Come on Wayne, you know I could do better than that dude. He's a poser

ZetaReticuli wrote:

What's the point of having this guy when he sounds exactly like Midnight?

Because there are 3 full-length albums the band has out with Midnight on lead vocals and it would help to sound that way?

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

ZetaReticuli wrote:

What's the point of having this guy when he sounds exactly like Midnight?

Because there are 3 full-length albums the band has out with Midnight on lead vocals and it would help to sound that way?

To me, it's like, they don't wanna move on or something...