Having celebrated their thirtieth anniversary as an established band just a few years back, The Crown put out the highly impressive and aggressive Royal Destroyer in 2021. An album full of potent Melodic Death Metal the band has been known for, the fury in each song was impossible to deny. Now three years later The Crown returns with the brand-new Crown of Thorns.
Released on October 11, 2024 through Metal Blade Records, the title Crown of Thorns seemingly is an homage to their early days when they were called Crown of Thorns. Changing their name in 1998 to The Crown, historically most internationally recognize them as such; and who cannot forget such standout albums like 2002’s Crowned in Terror or 2018’s Cobra Speed Venom? Caring a torch for Melodic Death Metal that is not painted by numbers, The Crown utilizes Thrash and Death Metal elements in their sound that stand out.
With all of this in mind, The Crown’s lineup has shifted several times through the years. A factor that could lead to inconsistency, fortunately, the leadership of Guitarist Marko Tervonen has kept the ship always stirring in the right direction. With him, original Vocalist Johan Lindstrand rejoined the band in 2011, while Bassist Mattias Rasmussen and Drummer Mikael Norén came on in 2022, before long-time Lead Guitarist Marcus Sunesson rejoined in early 2024. Exciting to see this lineup together, even more interesting is that after eleven years away Sunesson not only officially rejoined in August of 2024, but is also featured on a good portion of Crown of Thorns.
So, knowing all this you would have to be curious to hear Crown of Thorns, right? Of course… and let us say The Crown does not disappoint here. Possessing a different sound than 2021’s Royal Destroyer, Crown of Thorns is equally as aggressive, but there is a darker more melodic feeling to many of these tracks that is quite refreshing. Consisting of ten tracks, thirteen if you count the bonus ones, the overall feel of this album is a throwback to a Melodic Death Metal album of the golden era of the genre. With that, some elements stick out and add texture here there, and everywhere.
Explaining this, you get hard with full-on brutality in the opening songs “I Hunt With The Devil” and “Churchburner,” but soon after songs like “Martyrian,” “Gone to Hell” and “Where Night Belongs” offer the darkly melodic diversity some crave. Looking at the last of these three mentioned more closely, “Where Night Belongs” is by and large a blistering Thrash Metal cut, but burns off in haunting fashion when the vocals of Elina Tervonen enter.
Overall, Crown of Thorns does exceptionally well at introducing some varied elements to the mix. You can feel this throughout the album, and this includes the outstanding “The Storm That Comes” as well as “No Fuel for God” (a bonus track) which both have solos from Sunesson. So, if you are a fan of The Crown, you will not be disappointed with this album. For those who know the band’s name and appreciate their older work, but maybe lost track of them through the years, Crown of Thorns is the perfect way to reintroduce yourself. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this album 4 out of 5 stars.
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