Kill the Crown

Since 2006, Salt the Wound has been dedicated to creating face-punching deathcore while still retaining the melody and direction a melodic death metal or metalcore band might have. After starting off with a ever present melodic touch, they all but abandoned it on their second full length, Ares, and went for a more pure deathcore sound. However, with Kill the Crown, Salt the Wound has moved forward and backwards: They return to their melodic selves but clearly show progression through talent and creativity.

The album starts of with the intro title track, Kill the Crown. After a quiet beginning, only 19 seconds in, the song explodes with blast beats and a pure deathcore sound. The second track (the first full length track), To the Top, immediately starts off with a melodic death metal/metalcore riff and not too far along the drummer starts up the blast beats again. Through out the album, Salt the Wound delivers top quality original melodic riffs. While deathcore purists might be saddened about their move away from pure deathcore, they will still enjoy the heavier, darker tracks such as Elle Ess Dee and The Cliff Before the Fall. Salt the Wound even experiments a little bit, evidenced by the opening riffs in Why Don't You Have a Seat or Early Mornings and Late Nights.

However, at 43.5 minutes, the deathcore band Salt the Wound can only produce so much non-deathcore material. The riffs, while catchy, begin to run together. The listener may start to notice half way through the album the similarities in the playing of the riffs. And with so many riffs, some not-so-great ones manage to slip through, such as the uninspired opening riff of A Year in the Suburbs.

The talent from Salt the Wound is what you would expect from a melodic deathcore band. The drummer is capable of pounding out speedy blast beats, but refrains from doing so every single second of every song to keep the drums original and refreshing. The guitarists and bassist display their skill with fast riffs and really fast strumming. The vocalist exhales a string of brutal vocals, switching from highs to lows effortlessly.

All in all, Kill the Crown is a great returning effort by Salt the Wound. The record is a constant unleashing of a perfect mixture of fury and melody. With only a few low points and a bit of repetition, you'll be sure to mosh to these songs.