First Chapter's album, The Crusade, is a sonic journey through the various sounds and textures of the gothic rock genre. From the opening track, "Crusade," with its driving guitar riffs and haunting vocals, to the closing track, "The End," with its somber piano melodies and melancholic lyrics, the album takes the listener on a dark and introspective journey.
The songs on The Crusade showcase the band's ability to blend different musical influences into their sound. The track "Broken" features a pulsating electronic beat that blends seamlessly with the guitars and vocals, while "Fading" has a more traditional gothic rock sound with its heavy guitars and brooding vocals.
The standout track on the album is "The Blackest Rose," which features a beautiful and haunting melody that is perfectly complemented by the soaring vocals of lead singer Sarah Marie. The song builds to a powerful crescendo, with the guitars and drums driving the melody forward before slowly fading away.