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CROSKILL

Progressive Metal • Brazil


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Croskill biography
Croskill was formed on January 10, 1989, the date of the band's first rehearsal, in the city of Natal, Northeast of Brazil. Initially as a quartet with Eri Soares (bass), Jucian Lima (drums), Marcus Varela (vocals and guitar) and Vinicius Costa (guitar). The intention was to make a sound along the lines of Fates Warning, Queensryche, Helstar, Iron Maiden and Rush. Only 3 months later came the first shows and the recording of the first demo tape entitled The Dreaming Paths to Dawn containing 5 songs.

The band's early steps still contained a certain amount of heavy and thrash metal influences, but as time went on the visible influence of Fates Warning became more and more clear. In 1990, the band was invited to record 2 tracks on the compilation Whiplash Attack Vol. 1 on the Brazilian label Whiplash Records. During these first years, Croskill opened for Brazilian bands such as Viper, Vodu, Hammerhead and others, as well as shows in the Brazilian Northeast.

Also in 1990 the band recorded their first full-length album called Escape Into Fantasies, released in 1991 by Rock Brigade Records. The album showed the band much more mature and with its Progressive Metal much more defined. That album for many years became a cult record in Brazil. Croskill records the album as a trio with the departure of guitarist Vinicius Costa before the recording. Escape Into Fantasies is considered the first concept album by a Progressive Metal band made in Brazil. The lyrics tell the story of a character who lets himself be carried away by depression because he doesn't believe in people and in this way isolates himself day after day, turning to his inner self and his fantasies, being treated like a madman in institutions for not fitting into the society that surrounds him, until he lets himself languish to death to be reborn on another plane.

The band moves to the city of São Paulo in search of new horizons and growth as a band. Being in the biggest city in Brazil, where everything happens, seemed like the perfect opportunity for the band to evolve. During this period, the band became a quintet with the entry of Chilean vocalist Eric Galdyanz and guitarists Karim Serri and Max Machado and the departure of the then vocalist/guitarist Marcus Varela. This period lasted until the end of 1991 when the band took a break from their activities and returned to their hometown.

In 1995 the band returned to the charge with a new line-up with Eri Soares (bass) and J...
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CROSKILL discography


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CROSKILL top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.83 | 3 ratings
Escape into Fantasies
1991

CROSKILL Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

CROSKILL Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

CROSKILL Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

CROSKILL Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.50 | 2 ratings
Sorrow (demo)
1996
4.00 | 2 ratings
Divisory Illusions
2023

CROSKILL Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Escape into Fantasies by CROSKILL album cover Studio Album, 1991
3.83 | 3 ratings

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Escape into Fantasies
Croskill Progressive Metal

Review by zFrogs

4 stars The word Croskill, in a general way, represents a machine that plows the land while crushing stones. Tricky Illusion, would say a poet. The unusualy name can be attached to the band's effort to asure special results. Escape Into Fantasies is their first album and a particular example of hard work. Recorded in December 1990, on an 8-track reel-to-reel recorder, no overdubs, practically live, no room for error. At a time when it was difficult for Brazilians to access good equipment, especially if they lived in the Northeast region of the country, far from large centers such as São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. Marcus Varela (vocals and guitar), Eri Soares (bass and vocals) and Jucian Lima (drums and vocals) together already represent a reference for Brazilian Prog Metal (today this album is considered by many as the first concept album of Brazilian Prog Metal) for the totally self-taught way in which they built it at that time. The album includes nine tunes which altogether unite the following idea: man's fragility at the present time plus, his fears of an unsure coming future. The first song Escape Into Fantasies starts with a 7x4 bar and the first note of the guitar being the third and not the tonic, a simple detail, apparently unimportant but that from the outset, already shows the sound intention of the band and the song expresses our doubts, pessimism, chaos and our impotence. Rhythm & solo guitars coming one after the other reflect man's afflictions followed by Jucian's strong drum beat. The song The Unknown Meanings analyzes and questions the real threats of life, the soft and sometimes aggressive tone of the voice refers to any person's deepest thoughts, followed by powerful guitar solos. In Quest Of Truth, the third song, the character finally realizes that the suffering will surely last through future incarnations. The band's musical utopia is safely hidden behind multiplied cadency cariations. First side's last song, Where Life Ends, compares the world at the present time and hell; maybe hell as described by Giotto maybe just as Bosch described it. Strumming and ruthless drum beating are heard. As if the character's life, at that moment, was represented in an asylum, with no possibility of release. When the album is released, Days Of No Trust begins. It resembles the first song on the album in which man's apathy towards the world was made clear. No one can be trusted in these dark days. This song has an offensive tone emphasized by Eri's bass, somewhat reminiscent of Voivod perhaps. The next one Looking For The Fluids Of Reason relates to mankind weakness when it's necessary to face their own destiny. The idea mentioned above contrasts with sucessive guitar solos. Scattered By The Winds Of Time ends man's Via Crucis. It Reveals human beings regular behavior - The necessity of self destruction emphasized once more by bass guitar. The storm's over. Croskill's sound is reminiscent of Fates Warning and sometimes Iron Maiden and Rush. An intriguing mix. The ballad Wings Of Destiny exorcises the sad feeling according to Croskill's point of view. Awakening closes the album and brings a message of hope to the character or humanity. Finally, the violin and classical guitar bring heavy metal to an old reality ? the music of the renaissance. To improve any description, it is a must to observe Croskill's playing and skilled techniques. They escaped the raw truth about Brazilian heavy metal - repetition. It has become important to seek different and alternative paths. Croskill certainly goes down a separate path and hopes they stick to it. At the time, with all the difficulties they faced, they forged a path at the forefront of heavy Brazilian music.
Thanks to gordy for the artist addition.

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