Krustallos
Original Release Date: 08/28/4180
Not since the days of Earth's Trojan War has there been a story as epic as The Crystal Queen. Revered for her beauty, the Queen was encased in crystal to protect her from unworthy suitors (who she grew tired of entertaining). She was taken to a private residence in an undisclosed location beyond the trio of red suns that prop up the Borros Galaxy. Some, many in fact, saw this as a personal slight against them and mobilized a vast intergalactic army to track down the Queen. Many bloody battles ensued, almost all of them resulting in the Queen being no closer to their grasp. The battlefields of the void and the planets in their path suffered greatly, wiping out whole civilizations with the trivial pursuit. Krustallos, from which the band takes its name, was a four-legged beast that was the main conveyance of a young creature named Aveed, whose home amongst sand dunes and sparkling oases was far from paradise. On his journey between market and home, Krustallos thirsted for water, prompting a quick respite at a watering hole. As the beast drank from the cool stream, it reared back, knocking Aveed from his perch. What had spooked the normally stoic conveyance was none other than the Crystal Queen herself. During her escape, her shuttle malfunctioned, sending her plunging into the dunes of the simple planet. After pulling her free, with the help of Krustallos, Aveed brought her to his home, much to the shock of his parental units. He did not realize that his heroics had accidentally activated a tracking device embedded within the Queen's crystal cage, and the armies of the universe would soon be descending to reclaim her. Krustallos, the band, was raised on the legend of Aveed and his mighty beast, so much so that it became required reading in most pre-pubescent educational facilities. The tale of his ascent into the Tower of Fiends to avoid detection and the reveal of the Queen's true power is as prescient and as well-known as any nursery rhyme, but this was the first instance of it being set to any music. You can imagine, dear Audionaut, the fervor War For The Crystal Queen caused, both good and bad. Ultimately, the album would reign for four decades; its sizzling synth and powerful bass undertones invoked a dessert in the mind that trumped any film version. There were a few controversial hot takes about the story's origin that began to surface. While sales waned temporarily, the story of Aveed and the Crystal Queen would choose to live on forever as the ultimate tale of heroism, hubris, and humility.
Side A
Begone!
Crystallization
Fly, You Fools!
Watering Hole
Side B
The Journey West
Tower of Fiends
Internal Light Flashes
Entombed No More