''Astronomica'' is the fourth and final studio album by the American

progressive metal Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad :Fusion music genres, fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven s ...

band

Crimson Glory Crimson Glory was an American heavy metal band that formed in 1983 in Sarasota, Florida. They started in 1979 under the monikers 'Pierced Arrow', then 'Beowulf', before settling on Crimson Glory. The classic line-up consisted of vocalist Midnig ...

, released in 1999 via

Spitfire Records Spitfire Records was a subsidiary of Eagle Rock Entertainment located in New York City, United States. In September 1998, Paul Bibeau founded, launched and rapidly developed Spitfire Records Inc. from a two-man operation located in his home bedr ...

(USA) and Rising Sun (Europe). After a long hiatus following their less-than-successful album '' Strange and Beautiful'', the band reformed with Wade Black on vocals and Steve Wacholz (of

Savatage Savatage () was an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The band was first called Avatar, but, shortly before the release of their debut album ''Sirens'' (1983), they changed thei ...

fame) on drums. Although he is pictured in the album artwork (with the intention of being the new drummer), Wacholz never actually played on the record – a drum machine was used. Wade Black's vocal delivery was not appreciated by all fans, who were accustomed to

Midnight Midnight is the transition time from one day to the next – the moment when the date changes, on the local official clock time for any particular jurisdiction. By clock time, midnight is the opposite of noon, differing from it by 12 hours. ...

's voice. Still, the album was greeted as a successful comeback. "March to Glory" is a re-interpretation of the tune "

Boadicea Boudica or Boudicca (, known in Latin chronicles as Boadicea or Boudicea, and in Welsh as ()), was a queen of the ancient British Iceni tribe, who led a failed uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire in AD 60 or 61. She ...

", to be found on ''

Enya Enya Patricia Brennan (; ga, Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin; born 17 May 1961), known professionally by the mononym Enya, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician known for modern Celtic music. She is the best-selling Irish solo arti ...

'' by Irish singer and songwriter

, which was released in 1987 and re-released in 1992 bearing the title ''The Celts''. "Cydonia" contains a hidden track which includes 20:15 minutes of recorded police scanner communications that describe alleged U.F.O. sightings (on the 1999 Spitfire Records edition only).

Track listings

All music by

Jon Drenning Jon William Drenning (born April 5, 1965) is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the lead guitarist of Crimson Glory. He is also known for his work in the bands Crush and Erotic Liquid Culture. Biography Crimson Glory In 197 ...

and

Jeff Lords Jeff Lords is an American musician best known for being the bassist of Crimson Glory. He is also known for his work in the bands Crush and Erotic Liquid Culture, and currently in the band Dark Matter. Career Crimson Glory In 1979, guitarist Ben ...

– all lyrics by Billy Martinez and Jon Drenning except where noted. # "March to Glory" (instrumental) – 3:28 # "War of the Worlds" (Drenning, Lords) – 4:08 # "New World Machine" (Drenning, Lords, Martinez) – 4:14 # "Astronomica" – 4:54 # "Edge of Forever" – 5:47 # "Touch the Sun" – 5:55 # "Lucifer's Hammer" (Drenning, Lords) – 4:25 # "The Other Side of Midnight" – 4:29 # "Cyber-Christ" (Drenning, Lords) – 5:14 # "Cydonia" – 5:47 A special edition limited to 5000 was released with a second disc, featuring 3 live tracks with Midnight on vocals, recorded at

Manatee Civic Center Bradenton Area Convention Center, formerly Manatee Civic Center, is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena and convention center in Palmetto, Florida. It was home to the Florida Stingers of the Continental Basketball Association and Florida Scorpio ...

on Sept. 2, 1989. # "Painted Skies" (Drenning, Lord,

) – 7:10 # "Queen of the Masquerade" (Drenning, Lord, Midnight) – 6:19 # "Lost Reflection" (Drenning, Lord, Midnight) – 6:29 A limited edition remaster from 2008 on the Polish Metal Mind label expanded the second disc with further studio and live material: # "War of the Worlds" – remake # "Astronomica" – demo version # "Touch the Sun" – demo version # "Dragon Lady" – live # "Eternal World" – live # "Painted Skies" – 7:10 # "Queen of the Masquerade" – 6:19 # "Lost Reflection" – 6:29

Personnel

* Wade Black – vocals *

– guitars, producer, engineer, mixing * Ben Jackson – guitars *

– bass * Steve Wachholz – credited as drummer, but did not play on album.

References

{{Authority control 1999 albums Crimson Glory albums Spitfire Records albums