"Craft"
"Craft"
1. Craft were really more of a project than a band. Formed by William Gilmour with Martin Russell shortly after both left THE ENID, the pair added percussionist Grant McKay Gilmour and eventually released a short self-titled instrumental album in 1984 based on half the signs of the zodiac. Rumors of a follow-up circulated for several years, but none was forthcoming. Apparently some work had been done, as the 1992 reissue on CD included three short new tracks from the group.
None of the members of CRAFT were original members of THE ENID, but clearly the composing partnership of Gilmour and Russell were influenced by that band's eccentric and highly eclectic style. CRAFT however present songs with a more consistent tempo, and their sole album is much more textured with brass and percussion than their previous band. Their tone is rather more aggressive than that of THE ENID, but the influence in composition and rhythmic range cannot be denied.
The project faded away shortly after the release of their album. Today Gilmour is a moderately well-known chamber, choral and children's' composer living in Scotland. Russell went on to provide studio support for numerous prominent artists such as David Bowie, Robert Plant, Peter Gabriel, and Sinead O'Conner. He has had heavy involvement with a number of world music projects, and currently heads the Afro Celts Sound System, a world-music collective project.
CRAFT are deserving of a place in the Archives due to their highly symphonic style of arrangements, heavy use of keyboards as well as symphonic and simulated symphonic instrumentation, and their strong musical connection to THE ENID. CRAFT should be considered on the far right fringe of symphonic rock however; their music is certainly in the symphonic vein, but except for the drum work of Grant McKay Gilmour, one would be hard-pressed to call their music 'rock'.
Bob Moore (ClemofNazareth)
2. Шведский блэк-метал коллектив Craft начинал свой темный путь еще в 1994-м году под вывеской Nocta (смена названия на нынешнее произошла лишь через несколько лет, в 98-м). Парни записали свою первую демоленту в 96-м, но по неким причинам она так и не увидела свет. Следующая демозапись, репетиционная "Total Eclipse", последовала через три года. Вдохновлялись начинающие ересиархи, следует отметить, не только ранними кацерскими актами (норвежский блэк, разумеется; в первую очередь Burzum и Darkthrone), но и классическим хэви вроде Black Sabbath. Не зацикливаясь на одном музыкальном стиле, шведы не засиживались и на типичных для жанра лирических темах, преподнося любопытные вещи, посвященные различным темным аспектам жизни, в частности, ненависти, смерти и разрушению. Craft исправно просуществовал вплоть до 2005-го года, когда произошли неприятные события: из команды выперли барабанщика Дэниела Халена, и проект был временно заморожен. К счастью, к настоящему времени шведские "ремесленники" наконец разобрались со всеми проблемами, и вновь пустили свое еретическое мастерство в дело.
Дискография:
"Total Eclipse", Carnal Records (демо, 1999)
"Total Soul Rape", The Black Hand (LP, 2000)
"Terror Propaganda", Selbstmord Services (LP, 2002)
"Fuck the Universe", Carnal Records (LP, 2005)
"Void", Carnal Records (LP, 2011)
Текущий состав (без учета сессионщиков):
Joakim – гитара, а также музыка и лирика
Mikael Nox – вокал
John Doe – лид-гитара