{"id":4076,"date":"2016-10-22T16:43:33","date_gmt":"2016-10-22T16:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kkdowning.net\/steelmill\/?post_type=albumreviews&p=4076"},"modified":"2024-09-06T09:46:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T09:46:33","slug":"crown-death-not-dead-century-media-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kkdowning.net\/steelmill\/crown-death-not-dead-century-media-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"The Crown – Death Is Not Dead (Century Media 2015)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[three_fourth]After more than four years of waiting, Sweden\u2019s death metal pioneers The Crown<\/strong> returned in early 2015 with a fittingly called new record \u201dDeath Is Not Dead.\u201d<\/strong> Fans were especially thrilled to herald the return of band\u2019s original vocalist Johan Lindstrand, for the first time since 2003\u2019s \u201cPossessed 13\u201d album. The previous CD \u201cDoomsday King\u201d contained vocal acrobatics of God Macabre\u2019s Jonas St\u00e5lhammer, who did a fine job. However, Lindstrand\u2019s voice remains the sharpest sword in The Crown\u2019s arsenal which is imminent from the first notes of this record.<\/p>\n

Short intro \u201dReign\u201d<\/strong> kicks things off with a melancholic guitar melody, and its followed with proper album opener and first single \u201cHeadhunter.\u201d<\/strong> It presents quite basic The Crown-formula familiar from band\u2019s past. Melodic death metal with thrash metal overtones are still the name of the game. Lindstand screams with his usual raw style and guitars by Marko Tervonen and new member Robin S\u00f6rqvist take the song forward coloring tight rhythm. Drums pound away surprisingly played by Tervonen himself after group\u2019s drummer Janne Saarenp\u00e4\u00e4 moved to work with Apple in the USA.<\/p>\n

Same tight going continues throughout all following songs. Guitars grind away with sharp touch and guitar melodies typical for The Crown are thrown in steadily in nearly all tracks. One exception to somewhat even material comes with \u201cRide To Ruin,\u201d<\/strong> which grooves like prime time Black Sabbath. Similar change in pace would have been great to see few more times. The songs is arguably the best cut on the album. They even cover Paradise Lost’s “Eternal”<\/strong> and the song blends in so well with other tracks it becomes a distinguished The Crown-tune.<\/p>\n

The Crown continues its surefire path aided by new decade. Changes in personnel haven\u2019t in any way affected negatively to the final product, in fact self-assurance is reflected through every note. Production on the album is first rate and those enjoying band\u2019s music will no doubt cherish \u201cDeath Is Not Dead.\u201d The record also improves on \u201cDoomsday King\u201d and Johan Lindstrand really shines on vocals. Yet the final nail to the masterpiece coffin is still not hit. Maybe next time it will be delivered. The band have announced a new album for 2017 so our sights are already set on that one.<\/p>\n

\"3k\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Ville Krannila<\/strong><\/p>\n