Oh Captain, my Captain! Why art thou
\nCrimsonfaced<\/i>?<\/p>\n
Perhaps it’s the dirty little ditty “Sex Song”. Or perhaps it’s
\nthe physical exertion of furious riffing that creates the
\nfoundation for this set of songs.<\/p>\n
Captain Freak, a.k.a. Michael Trapp, is the sole performer,
\narranger and artist behind
\nCrimsonfaced<\/i>, an aggressive collection of synth-infused,
\nindustrial-strength guitar music. Trapp deftly covers three decades
\nworth of diverse musical genres into a musical Frankenstein’s
\nmonster – a satisfying mixture of industrial metal, 80’s synth-pop,
\nelectronica, grunge and 70’s arena rock. Trapp is a very talented
\nmusician and arranger. The songs (all recorded in his home studio)
\nare lean and clean, and the sound is crisp. His stock in trade is
\nmulti-layered, heavy guitars, hyper-kinetic beats and creepy
\nsynths.<\/p>\n
Out the gate with the opener “Terrified”, Trapp wastes no time
\nin showing you what he’s all about. Driving rhythm, spastic guitar,
\nand techno-beats merge into a satisfying blast of aggro-rock.
\n“Blameless” follows in a similar vein with crunching guitar and a
\nfranticly syncopated drum signature. “Crazy” slows it down a bit,
\nand then builds up and up, climaxing in a tasty Randy Rhodes
\ninspired guitar solo. Other highlights are the grinding “The
\nCreeps” and the toe-tapping angst of “Video”.<\/p>\n
“Wrong” is a track I returned to several times, as it showcases
\nTrapp’s formidable guitar skills. His evocative solos travel a wide
\nsonic range. Combining speed, subtle tones and fluidity into a
\nheavy 6-string mosaic that ranges from buttery-smooth to grinding
\ndevastation. Every trip along the fret board with the Capt. usually
\nends up being very satisfying.<\/p>\n
Trapp is at the core an instrumentalist, but he proves to be a
\ndecent lyricist as well. His songs have heart and feeling, and a
\nwicked sense of humor throughout. His record probably could have
\nbenefited from a more polished singer. However, his quirky voice
\ngives the songs a decidedly twisted and homemade cast, which adds
\nto the personality of the songs. Trapp’s oddly frenetic vocals land
\nsomewhere between Les Claypool and Trent Reznor, not surprising as
\nNIN is an obvious influence.<\/p>\n
I’ve seen a lot of indie up-and-comers come and go, and frankly,
\nmost have been forgettable. Trapp has achieved what many have tried
\nand failed, a homemade bitches-brew of great music that has staying
\npower. He’s done a very smart thing in offering it for free
\n(details follow). With a little more polish and some of the same
\nskills that produced Crimsonfaced, Trapp could certainly achieve
\nmore than just underground success. I feel like he’s still finding
\nhis feet stylistically, but his musical foundation is solid. I’d
\nlike to see a bit more diversity in his compositions next time
\naround. In any case, I’m eagerly looking forward to his future
\nwork.<\/p>\n