U.K. progressive post-rock supergroup Crippled Black Phoenix is a musical collective that has featured nearly 30 members in its rotating roster. The constant driving force is multi- instrumentalist Justin Greaves (Electric Wizard, Iron Monkey, Se Delan), who formed the band in 2004 with Mogwai bassist Dominic Aitchison.

Creating what they describe as “endtime ballads” to signify both the slightly macabre nature of their songs and the unusual blend of styles as the final evolution in music. The band have made live shows a focus by performing in unusual venues across the world as well as using Victorian-era instruments in tandem with more modern instruments often involving more than a dozen members on-stage.

On I, Vigilante, CBP create songs that feel both sky-crackingly epic and intimate at the same time. “We Forgotten Who We Are” is an 11 minute thundering storm which powers through sections of head-nodding chugging guitars to a sunrise of happy melody and back, “Fantastic Justice” is a staggering display of songwriting, with twists and turns that make the band sound like a mini orchestra – horns, strings, crashes and swoons with Greaves the dark conductor. The spoken-word opening to “Bastogne Blues” is perfectly evocative for a genuinely troubled song, CBP’s command of bleakness is at its strongest here; cinematic doesn’t come close to describing the song’s emotional resonance. When I, Vigilante threatens to disintegrate into a black hole of misery, a faithfully screaming version of Journey’s “Of a Lifetime” shows a sense of humour and some sweet guitar tones.

Kscope are set to release I, Vigilante for the first time, as double gatefold LP, with 3 sides music and a fourth side featuring a stunning cover artwork etching on 180g black vinyl.

“blending a cocktail of folk and post-rock with a hint of Victorian curiosities, ‘I, Vigilante’ is a finely crafted masterpiece” – 9/10, Rock Sound Magazine

“They’d be hard pushed to further the majesty seen here on what is a wondeful album” -8/10, Drowned in Sound

“Six towering epics given vigour by the fury of hardcore, the communal euphoria of Black Mountian-like prog and that same twinkle of hope found in Mogwai’s raging beauty” – 8/10, NME