KINGCROW — In Crescendo (review)

Album · 2013 · Progressive Metal

4/5 · 2013-03-08
adg211288

In Crescendo is the fifth full-length album by Italian progressive metal act Kingcrow. It was released in 2013. Although my introduction to the group, I’m aware after reading up on them that the band had previously been very much the metal act but then decided to go for a more evenly balanced sound consisting of both traditional and modern sounding progressive metal elements and some quite mellow sounding atmospheric progressive rock. On In Crescendo this usually means employing both styles within the same song.

While the transitions between the two musical extremes are pretty much done flawlessly across the album’s eight tracks, In Crescendo does come across as a bit of a bipolar release to my ears. Mostly that’s in terms of those very different sounds of course but it does come over into the quality a bit as well unfortunately, since listening to the album it’s very clear to me that I’m listening to a band that is more talented at doing their metal side than their mellow side. That’s not to say that Kingcrow can’t do mellow at all, but the stuff on the album in this direction doesn’t move me anywhere near the same way as the progressive metal instrumental breaks do, in which Kingcrow show themselves to be a tasteful, non-showy band. The Hatch and The Glass Fortress showcase this side of the band brilliantly, and are the best songs of the album along with the closing title track.

The album isn’t as such let down by the mellow parts of course, I just feel that Kingcrow is the sort of band who could carry an album in a more exclusively metal style a lot better, as when the mellow parts are on I can’t help but be impatient for it to heavy up again. Yet at the same time I think Kingcrow could also make a really great album if they stuck exclusively with the mellow sound. In some ways their lighter music reminds me of alternative rockers Foo Fighters at their most mellow. This Ain't Another Love Song gives me the same sort of vibe as Foo’s classic Everlong. I happen to consider Foo Fighters one of the finest bands of their kind but it isn’t the sort of sound I was particularly looking for from a band primarily known as a progressive metal act.

In all fairness it’s impossible to deny that Kingcrow have a pretty great album on their hands here, one that there’s something for almost every type of progressive fan to be found. Their musicianship is superb, the vocals of Diego Marchesi clear and melodic, albeit perhaps a tad more suitable to the mellow side than the metal and despite some misgivings on my part, there’s never a moment to be found where the album doesn’t manage to work to at least a satisfactory level, and much of it I’d even consider exceptional work. Would be it be better if Kingcrow played to their apparent strengths a little more? Probably. Do I respect them more for trying something outside of the equally apparent comfort zone? Of course! A great album tier rating is deserved.

81/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org/kingcrow-in-crescendo-t2806.html))