THE CROWN POSSESSED 13
Metal Blade - 2003
By Rodrigo Escandon
Possessed 13 marks the 6th album by the The Crown and it also marks the 13th year of the bands existence with 13 new tracks of their trademark blistering death/thrash metal attack. This album also reintroduces original singer Johan Lindstrand to the line-up following the mutual split the band had with Tomas Lindberg (did anybody really think he would last long with this band considering how many projects he is involved with?). Finally, the concept behind the songs in this album is truly unique. The Crown decided to take unreleased old riffs from their early demo days and by combining them with new material they have managed to create an album that sounds both old-school and modern and with plenty of aggression. The US release of Possessed 13 will include these demos so one can compare the new with the old.
While unable to make that comparison (no demo CD to the press) there is still nothing lost by hearing an album that contains excellent songs armed with a wide array of razor-sharp, intense, angry and unrelenting riffs. Giving you brief moments to pause and rest your weary ears with a couple of instrumentals (Dream Bloody Hell and In Memoriam) the rest of Possessed 13 is uncompromisingly heavy and uncompromisingly metal. Hitting you like a sledgehammer are songs like Are You Morbid?, Natashead Overdrive, Face of Destruction Deep Hit of Death and Kill Em All (an all-too apparent homage to Metallica as the verse sounds straight out of Whiplash). Not to be outdone are some of the slower but intense songs like Cold is the Grave and Bow to None (think World Below from Crowned In Terror).
With Johan back with the band, The Crown have managed to top themselves once again with Possessed 13. This is clearly a band on the rise and it is time for more people to start paying attention to them. Possessed 13 is easily one of the best albums of the year!
Metal Blade Website
The Crown Official Website
Metal Blade - 2003
By Rodrigo Escandon
Possessed 13 marks the 6th album by the The Crown and it also marks the 13th year of the bands existence with 13 new tracks of their trademark blistering death/thrash metal attack. This album also reintroduces original singer Johan Lindstrand to the line-up following the mutual split the band had with Tomas Lindberg (did anybody really think he would last long with this band considering how many projects he is involved with?). Finally, the concept behind the songs in this album is truly unique. The Crown decided to take unreleased old riffs from their early demo days and by combining them with new material they have managed to create an album that sounds both old-school and modern and with plenty of aggression. The US release of Possessed 13 will include these demos so one can compare the new with the old.
While unable to make that comparison (no demo CD to the press) there is still nothing lost by hearing an album that contains excellent songs armed with a wide array of razor-sharp, intense, angry and unrelenting riffs. Giving you brief moments to pause and rest your weary ears with a couple of instrumentals (Dream Bloody Hell and In Memoriam) the rest of Possessed 13 is uncompromisingly heavy and uncompromisingly metal. Hitting you like a sledgehammer are songs like Are You Morbid?, Natashead Overdrive, Face of Destruction Deep Hit of Death and Kill Em All (an all-too apparent homage to Metallica as the verse sounds straight out of Whiplash). Not to be outdone are some of the slower but intense songs like Cold is the Grave and Bow to None (think World Below from Crowned In Terror).
With Johan back with the band, The Crown have managed to top themselves once again with Possessed 13. This is clearly a band on the rise and it is time for more people to start paying attention to them. Possessed 13 is easily one of the best albums of the year!
Metal Blade Website
The Crown Official Website
