Artist: The Crown
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 10/21/03
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Title: Possessed 13 Artist: The Crown Label: Metal Blade Records Release Date: 10/21/03 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
The Crown welcome vocalist Johan Lindstrand back into the fold with a crushing album that takes their trademark sound, dips it in acid and rubs all the polish off of it. Fans of their old style (when they were still known as Crown of Thorns) will see this album as somewhat of a throwback, but newer fans will see it as a raw and brutal record that is the sonic equivalent of taking a baseball bat to somebody’s kneecap.
"The songs coming from the speakers seem to attack you from all sides, satisfying the metalhead’s innate compulsion for both blistering speed and crushing weight." As adrenaline-filled and caustic as their last few albums have been, The Crown go for something even more primal here. The guitars rip with hateful riff after hateful riff, buzzsawing through track after track, and it is only in the tranquil moments between songs that you become aware of the blood pooling in your inner ear (okay, it’s really wax buildup, but that doesn’t sound nearly as metal). Song after song leaves you with a frantic, almost desperate, feeling that is as satisfying as it is exhilarating. The songs coming from the speakers seem to attack you from all sides, satisfying the metalhead’s innate compulsion for both blistering speed and crushing weight.
While I disagree with the criticism some piled on with the addition of ex-At The Gates throat Tomas Lindberg (this music isn’t about the vocals), Mr. Lindstrand seems right at home screaming his head off over the riffs that belie 90’s melodic death cut with 80’s thrash. The songwriting is superb, as one would expect with this band’s history, showing that a band can continue to evolve effectively without losing their core audience. My only real criticism is the fact that one of their songs was a blatant rip-off of the verse of “Whiplash” by
"One word review: Killer."
Death's Review:
The Crown employ an interesting technique on Possessed 13: taking old riffs from the band’s demo days and fusing them with new material resulting in old-school thrash with a modern aggression, production and aesthetic. The band dates back 13 years (to 1990), and The Crown have woven 13 new songs with old, unreleased riffs interspersed throughout. Thus, Possessed 13. The U.S. release should have a second CD packaged with it containing these older demos so that the fans can hear where the material came from. Cool concept, although I only have the new disc. The record company has decided that Disc 2 is an extra for the fans, not a freebie for the press.
"Heavy and intense, catchy yet brutal - if you like metal, you’ll like The Crown." I feel deprived of part of the backstory, but nonetheless I can still tell you that the new material is so compelling that I don’t even need to be able to fully appreciate the admittedly cool gimmick to know that this is five skull material. Great songs: totally metal, totally thrash, yet totally modern. Back on track with the original vocalist, The Crown have put together the entire package this time around, with a killer production, great art and booklet, a cool concept and great songs. This album kicks ass, and everyone who goes out and gets it will surely agree. Heavy and intense, catchy yet brutal - if you like metal, you’ll like The Crown. A great album.
Hel's Review:
Favorite track: “Dawn of Emptiness”Welcome to the newest offering from The Crown. With this album, vocalist Johan Lindstrand makes his return to the band, with devastating results. Apparently there is some concept behind this album, with these being reworked songs or some such. I don’t think it was explained very well, or at least I don’t understand it very well, but I imagine it to be something for the die-hard aficionados to salivate over.
I have to admit my familiarity with The Crown is pretty much post-name change. I encountered the band when they were still Crown of Thorns, but didn’t really start paying avid attention until later. But from everything I know about this band, they seem to just get better with every release. And by a similar token, Possessed 13 seems to get better and better with each subsequent song.
"The songs are all incredibly catchy and the urge to growl along is absolutely irresistible." The production on this record is very nice; I can even pick out the pummeling bass lines, which is a rare joy. Of course the musicianship is incredible throughout, and the songwriting is stellar. For example, I imagine that “Dream Bloody Hell” is the instrumental Morbid Angel wishes they had written for their last record (and if not, perhaps they ought to).
The bonus materials seem like they would be killer, but alas, as the note from the Metal Blade Publicity Department enclosed states, “Metal Blade Records does not service bonus or DVD discs as they are extras reserved for the fans.” This makes me pout, since I am a fan, I’m just one that happens to also be a reviewer… *sigh*
"Go out and get Possessed 13!" The songs are all incredibly catchy and the urge to growl along is absolutely irresistible. “Dawn of Emptiness” in particular, causes me to strengthen my resolve to figure out how the hell to sing along without destroying my throat. All in all, this is one excellent release. Go out and get Possessed 13!
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