PORTRAIT — Crossroads (review)

PORTRAIT — Crossroads album cover Album · 2014 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Crossroads" is the third full-length studio album by Swedish heavy metal act Portrait. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in April 2014. It´s the successor to "Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae" from 2011 and there have been a couple of lineup changes since the predecessor as guitarist Richard Lagergren has been replaced by David Olofsson and bassist Joel Pälvärinne has been replaced by Mikael Castervall. Lead vocalist Per Karlsson has changed his surname to Lengstedt through marriage, but it´s still the same man singing.

Both the band´s eponymously titled 2008 debut album and "Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae (2011)" were strongly Mercyful Fate/King Diamond influenced heavy metal releases, and "Crossroads" continues down a similar path. Everything from the riffs, the rhythms, the bass, the vocals, and even the sound production scream 1983/1984 Mercyful Fate. Fortunately Portrait are both skilled composers and musicians, so they can pull off writing and playing what in many ways is a tribute to the Danish heavy metal legends.

"Crossroads" opens with the beautiful acoustic guitar intro track "Liberation", but from then on you can expect to be treated to hard pounding heavy metal featuring a dark and occult atmosphere (at least until the closing track "Lily", which also features an acoustic opening). Loads of harmony and lead guitar work, an organic playing rhythm section, and the quite varied vocals by Per Lengstedt. Often high pitched or screaming, but almost just as often mid-range and slightly more gloomy. The whole thing reeks a dark atmosphere which is further enhanced by the ghost/horror story lyrics.

So upon conclusion "Crossroads" is another strong heavy metal album by Portrait, which is probably primarely aimed at fans of 1983/1984 Mercyful Fate, but should be able to be enjoyed by fans of 80s heavy metal in general. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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