Ellengæst
Ellengæst brings several different voices into Crippled Black Phoenix's dark rock, while keeping a clear identity across the songs. Heavy guitars, piano and trumpet create a broad emotional setting, with post-punk rhythms giving some passages a more direct movement. The guest performances add character, although the strongest moments depend just as much on the arrangements around them.
House Of Fools establishes the contrast immediately. An exposed trumpet introduction gives way to harsh guitars, with Vincent Cavanagh and Belinda Kordic helping to connect the rougher sound to a more melodic centre. A softer piano passage opens up the middle of the song.
Lost has a more insistent post-punk character. The rhythm and repeated chorus give it a strong shape, but the directness can also become a limitation. The central idea returns often enough that the long track loses some of its initial impact. Its dramatic mood remains convincing even when the writing feels less varied.
In The Night takes a more restrained route. Gaahl's low, almost spoken delivery contrasts with Kordic's voice, making the quieter instrumental setting feel especially tense. The later increase in force gains weight from that earlier simplicity.
Cry Of Love introduces a more open groove. Ryan Patterson's singing gives the song a different character, though Suzie Stapleton's contribution is less clearly defined in the mix than it might have been.
Everything I Say gives Kordic more space in a slow, gloomy setting. Piano leads into heavier guitar and quieter atmospheric passages, allowing the song to change without leaving its central mood behind. The Invisible Past follows on a larger scale, with Jonathan Hultén's voice helping to carry it towards an emotional ending.
Some spoken introductions interrupt the flow, and a few longer sections would benefit from tighter editing. Even so, Ellengæst contains strong songs and distinctive performances. Its mixture of darkness, melody and physical weight gives the record a clear appeal, while the varied singing usually strengthens the music rather than pulling it apart.
