Croskill for Progressive Metal

The band's early steps still contained a certain amount of heavy and thrash metal influences, but as time went on the visible influence of Fates Warning became more and more clear. In 1990, the band was invited to record 2 tracks on the compilation Whiplash Attack Vol. 1 on the Brazilian label Whiplash Records. During these first years, Croskill opened for Brazilian bands such as Viper, Vodu, Hammerhead and others, as well as shows in the Brazilian Northeast.

Also in 1990 the band recorded their first full-length album called Escape Into Fantasies, released in 1991 by Rock Brigade Records. The album showed the band much more mature and with its Progressive Metal much more defined. That album for many years became a cult record in Brazil. Croskill records the album as a trio with the departure of guitarist Vinicius Costa before the recording. Escape Into Fantasies is considered the first concept album by a Progressive Metal band made in Brazil. The lyrics tell the story of a character who lets himself be carried away by depression because he doesn't believe in people and in this way isolates himself day after day, turning to his inner self and his fantasies, being treated like a madman in institutions for not fitting into the society that surrounds him, until he lets himself languish to death to be reborn on another plane.

The band moves to the city of São Paulo in search of new horizons and growth as a band. Being in the biggest city in Brazil, where everything happens, seemed like the perfect opportunity for the band to evolve. During this period, the band became a quintet with the entry of Chilean vocalist Eric Galdyanz and guitarists Karim Serri and Max Machado and the departure of the then vocalist/guitarist Marcus Varela. This period lasted until the end of 1991 when the band took a break from their activities and returned to their hometown.

In 1995 the band returned to the charge with a new line-up with Eri Soares (bass) and Jucian Lima (drums and vocals), André Alves (guitar) and Edu Potyx (keyboards). They record a new demo entitled Sorrow and the sound becomes more progressive than ever. After a year in Natal, the band moved again to São Paulo. This period lasts until 1998 when the band disbanded for the second time. But leaving a very consistent legacy for his performances and songs with a unique and avant-garde style

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Only in 2013 did the band reappear as a quintet for a show at the Dosol Festival, one of the great music festivals in Brazil. This return rekindles the band's desire to return to the stage, but some misfortunes postpone this desire. Only during the pandemic, in 2021, Croskill resumed its activities. He signs with the label Dies Irae Records, which releases in 2023 a box with 3 CDs containing all the band's recordings, biography, poster and everything about the band.

In addition to the CD released this year, Croskill releases a single called Divisory Illusions. And he is in production of the new album to be released in 2024. With new material and with a strong progressive vein, both in the lyrics and in the intricate and cohesive arrangements, with diversified tempos and dynamics very much in the style of Prog Metal. The first show of this new wave will take place on 11/05 at the same Dosol Festival. Plans for the future include a tour of Brazil in 2024, as well as the new album and video. 

Croskill fits exactly the definition of the term Progressive Metal here on Progarchives: a blend of heavy, guitar-oriented metal music enriched with compositional innovation and complex arrangements, usually expressed through diverse instrumentation and often (but not always) with odd-time signatures. Common, but not essential to define the movement, are the frequent use of keyboards, high-pitched vocals, concept lyrical themes and tracks of longer duration. Similar to progressive rock, progressive metal draws influences from other genres, such as jazz/fusion, ethnic, classical and symphonic music.