I first saw Crusader opening for Anvil at Reggie's Rock Club in 2011. I liked what I heard, and I met up with singer Hoagy back by the merchandise tables. I picked up a copy of their original EP, Rise Of The Templars, and had it loaded on my mp3 player about 10 minutes after I got home from the show.
Since then, I've gotten to see Crusader quite a few times. They've opened for internationally touring bands like Holy Grail, Alestorm, Anvil and Sabaton. Performance reviews have been strong:
MariaV: First on the billing was CRUSADER, a Heavy Metal / Thrash band from Chicago which seems to walk in the footsteps of early IRON MAIDEN and THE SWORD (nice NWOBHM influences here) with some punk-ish references that fit like a glove in their music style. Since I had the opportunity to watch the young Metal quintet onstage less than a year ago, I already knew what to expect. It was a shame though that the early start didn’t allow them to play in front of a full house and questions like “why the hell CRUSADER weren’t higher in the billing?” came instantly to mind. Despite a minor problem in the sound of the lead guitar that fortunately didn’t last long, CRUSADER served us some of their best epic-driven songs and, to tell you the truth, I can’t wait for the upcoming debut to reach my hands. Love the GHOST tees, guys! Keep the horns high!
About a year ago, the guys launched a Kickstarter campaign to help in the production and release of the full length album - Onward Into Battle. Over the summer, the album was complete, and was released for online purchase. [Link to purchase page]
Tomorrow (12/7/2013) Crusader will be playing their Album Release Show at the Cobra Lounge with Immortal Bird (also celebrating an album release), Wizard Castle and Gnarhval. Ticket price is $5. Merchandise will be available, including special bundle deals on the newly arrived album.
"ONWARD INTO BATTLE will be available from tomorrow. Come hit us up at the show and pick up a copy. Support local metal! we'll have some bundle deals as well (hey, now there is a great Yule gift idea!)"
~Hoagy
Stop in, have a Cobra Burger (they're pretty tasty), and a beverage, and get ready for a night of good music.
Economical Value:
I've thrown this in on other gift ideas. The show, itself, is pretty affordable. $5 gets you into the show, food and drinks are dependent upon you. Merchandise costs are between "low" and "reasonable". Plus, all purchases directly benefit the artists. It's not just financial, either. Sharing a song with a friend, or asking someone "What's that on your shirt?" become ways that a band may be introduced to a wider audience. While I've never had someone stop me on the streets and ask "What's Crusader?", I have been asked by people with whom I've been having conversations.
On a personal note, I've been following this band for about two and a half years. I've seen quite a few shows. I've been really impressed, and I think you will be too (assuming the style is agreeable to you). I know that everyone has their own musical tastes. Crusader's style is in the realms of "metal", with different songs touching on different "sub-genres". If you enjoy groups like Iron Maiden, Manowar, and Bolt Thrower (just a couple of examples), then I believe you'll like Crusader!
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