Crystal Throne

The French metal scene has become one of the most vibrant ones over the past few years, no matter if you are looking for classic or more extreme stuff. One of the latest promising acts to rise out of the depths are Crystal Throne. Despite the stereotypical name and cover these four gentlemen have produced an album which is not just your 08/15 traditional run-of-the-mill metal presented in new clothes. Instead they have opted for a style which takes the trademarks of the genre, but adds some extra flavor on top. The end result presented on their self-titled debut full length is a sometimes quirky, yet very entertaining and refreshing piece of music.

The core of the band’s sound is similar to the early NWOBHM movement but they are very much on the heavy side and there is even a touch of power metal in there which comes out when the power is cranked up and the music becomes just a little more frenetic. Max turns out to be a very talented guitarist in that he can churn out huge riffs and solos that hit straight between the eyes but he is also capable of moving and subtle passage, something that can e.g. be witnessed in the classy mid-tempo stomper “Timescape”. There are a lot of small and subtle guitar details presented throughout the song in such a way they never hurt the flow, but always add another layer. Generally speaking there is some good variety when it comes to tempo and rhythm shifts without the music every coming across as being chaotic.

The drums and bass keep everything moving along at perfect pace without getting into the way of the two main attractions here, namely the guitars and the singer. Bass player Jefferson is also active in the fantastic death metal outfit Catalyst, who released a belter of an album two years ago. Being aware of this I tried to pay extra attention to his playing, and while I am not a musician myself I feel he does a fantastic job once again. This album is one big thumping attack on your senses and the more I listened, the more it grew on me. The rhythm section work their socks off throughout and the lead guitars go off on solos which are a treat, but while the music is comparable to big names like Iron Maiden or Fates Warning in places, these lads put their own stamp on it. All tracks comprise of galloping rhythms, heroic guitar solos and soaring chorus parts galore.

In the end Crystal Thrones’s music is heavy, old-school, very melodic and catchy as hell while not too simplistic and paint-by-the-numbers. With singer Terry they got a powerful voice which pretty much reminds of the pipes of legends like Tate or Alder to be honest and while his wailing can be a bit much for fans of standard heavy metal it perfectly reflects the prog tinted music. The less classic approach when it comes to pace and rhythm is what sets Crystal Throne apart from bands that only do good worshipping. Every involved musician is pretty skilled in my books, and thanks to some nicely constructed songs this album flies by. The production is clear, but could be called a bit thin, but this fact somehow rounds off the complete picture. Crystal Throne have a very concrete idea about how their music should be presented and they have no problems to show their influences. If you are into NWOBHM and the 80s/90s US power/prog movement you should not sleep on Crystal Throne.