In the metal scene today thrash has mistaken and mislabeled with many groups. However, I was able to come across one group that displays influences of my favorites (such as Metal Church, Testament, and Reverend) and brings back the classic thrash days. It shocked me to hear that these guys were from Pittsburgh and not from Texas where this sort of power metal still thrives. That’s not to say Crown the Lost doesn’t have a bit of the new age riffing (common of Shadows Fall) yet they remain faithful to a sound of their own.

My first listen was immediately grabbed by the vocals. They were not what I expected from the music that preceded them (growling is all too common among bands of all genres) and impressed me to give the songs another listen. Most of the time they are a unique style of singing that is incomparable to anything else I’ve previously heard and a few growls here and there (that add to the music much like Opeth). The instrumental intro of “Devoid Of All Praise” flows right into my favorite track of “Prelude to Fall.” The final track “This Dead Hour” ends the album just as it started, full of head banging madness. The production is above average and has only one fault in that the snare sound is too loud and often is destructive to the rest of the well mixed music. This is only a minor flaw on possibly one of my favorite thrash albums of the last year. With a new album due out this year, Crown the Lost has their work cut out for them to top this one and I look forward to their attempt.

Reviewed by QMII

RETURN TO CD REVIEWS