Destined for greatness
Now it's not very often that your breath gets taken away by a support act. Usually nowadays the support acts are pared to great effect with the headline-act, but in this case and after a brief 40 minute dalliance with these German (and young) progsters, you can tell that they are destined for much greater things
Musically they are a bit eclectic to say the least, but to describe them is almost like saying which one of your two kids is your favourite (they know which one is my favourite!). Think Meat Loaf, crossed with Jethro Tull, crossed with Queen, and we may be getting somewhere close.
Also NEVER judge a book by its cover as the guys merch stand had CDs on offer (review also on site) and they look like the bastard offspring of (pick any two from) Jim Henson's Muppets, a Tim Burton Movie, possibly Rocky Horror or Robert Smith (The Cure), and you're still only half way there! And they sounded (obviously) nothing like I was expecting.
I don't blame the audience at the start as it was only 150 people(ish), so they were never going to get a thunderous welcome. Cryptex were in Bilston to put on a show, no matter how small or quiet the audience. Come the end, they definitely won a few new fans.
Cryptex is basically one of the hottest bands to come out of Germany, and the driving force behind them is Noddy Holder lookalike Simon Moskon (Keys/piano, bluesharp, harmonica, bass, and even didgeridoo!!), and he confidently holds the keys (and tambourine) to their future success
They basically came, saw and conquered. Opening with the delightful Hicksville, Habitus and Itchy Feet, Cryptex set their plans for domination. Freeride was a song straight out of a dark Burton-esque Broadway musical. Cryptex are a quite superb three piece with wonderous harmonies - just check out Dance of the Strange Folk and prove me wrong. Apparently 12 months ago neither Ramon Heig (Drums & Cajon) or Martin Linke (Guitars, Sansula) sung a note. Yet tonight they harmonised as if they've been at it for years, this is where the Queen influence can be heard the most. When the guys take it up a notch for the powerful Camden Town, its an all out Rock assault. Alois is where Cryptex shone the most, stripped down and full of power and emotion. Linke riffed on the children's glockenspiel before swapping for the acoustic on It's Mine, and shows what a powerful tool Moskon's voice really is, and whips out the harmonica to finish off the song, before surprising the now fully entertained audience with his didgeridoo (a first for many of the prog audience I'm certain).
The talent was in abundance, with Heig keeping the beat on his Cajon (oo-er!)for Gypsy's Lullaby. Cryptex finished the latter part of their set strongly (not that any of it was weak I must add) with the heavy Most Lovable Monster, the thunderous Leviathan and finally their Outro from their album
Cryptex's music can be a bit all over the place, but with this gig supporting songs from their debut Good Morning, How Did You Live it all makes for a varied and superb gig. Symphonic, pompous, 70's-infused classic rock of the highest order. And I didn't mention the link to the DaVinci Code once. Doh!