Album Type : EP
Date Released : 17/7/2013
Label : Self Released
Song of the Crippled Bull, track listing :
1. Stench of the Iron Age
2. Ghosts She Sends3. The Mountain Top
4. Song of the Crippled Bull
The Band on this release :
James Dorton | Vocals
Nick Shaw | BassAndy Thomas | Guitars, Clean Vocals
Review :
Being sent EPs from new and upcoming bands always
fills me with excitement: the rawness, the energy and the desire to have their
message heard sings through with every song recorded and put onto the final
product. After all, on an EP every song
has to matter, every song has to make a point.
And, ladies and gentlemen, Black Crown Initiate have done just that on
their stonking four-track ‘Song of the Crippled Bull’. The quintet from Reading, PA have made a stellar
debut of progressive metal brilliance.
Time to take a closer look.
EP opener ‘Stench of the Iron Age’ is an epic slab of
metal, reaching up to the sky to blot out the sun. It begins so delicately too: with subtle,
melodious guitars giving way to drums and Nick Shaw’s truly
remarkable basswork (think Les Claypool with added intensity). James Dorton starts intoning his lyrics,
repeating them like a dark incantation, until the spell is complete and the
heaviness blossoms out like a mushroom cloud.
Sparks of devilish guitars snap and flash out, whilst the drums
beat out a murderous tattoo. At over
seven minutes, it really is a metal odyssey that galvanizes Black Crown
Initiate’s sound from mere metal into something much stronger and durable.
The
dust doesn’t even have time to settle as ‘Ghosts She Sends’ crashes in with the
weight of a truck. The vocals sound as
though James Dorton is trying to call down fire and brimstone from the
heavens. And the terrifying musical
accompaniment only enforces the idea that he is able to do just that. Just as the music reaches a dizzying peak,
there’s a break in the stormcloud and some delicate music shines through upon
us. It’s only a brief respite, though:
the darkness swallows the light whole and spews back violent, seething sonic
rage, finishing with bristling shouts of ‘GHOSTS SHE SENDS!’ making nearby
mountains shudder with fear.
Again
the transition to a new song is instantaneous.
‘The Mounatin Top’ pounds and roars with such defiant anger it could
cause even the tide to relent and turn back.
This track is fast, too. Almost
dizzyingly so. Andy
Thomas is just fantastic, his guitar prowess so accomplished it makes grown
men jealous at how easy he makes it seem.
Then
we have the grand finale. With a
flourish of spine-tingling riffs, ‘Song of the Crippled Bull’ takes to the
floor with a contemptuous sneer at its peers.
It knows how good it is, and that this space is now theirs for the taking. And what a show it puts on: tap-dancing out
blast beats, twirling out majestic guitar solos and all the while still
maintaining perfect poise and composure.
When the song is finished, the night is over. It really is that powerful a tune.
Considering
that they have only been together since December of 2012, it’s incredible to
think how polished and well-sounding Black Crown Initiate are. This EP is a testament to the creativity and
talent of these five guys: make no mistake, if they aren’t signed and making a
full-length album in a year or so, there’s no justice in the world. Get initiated right away.
Words by : Chris
Markwell
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more information :
