CROWN THE LOST

In keeping with the tradition of excellence for which Cruz Del Sur is now known, the Italian powerhouse of traditional/melodic heavy metal (with a twist) has released an album that boasts plenty of melodic songwriting and the golden throat of Chris Renaldi, yet is powered by a stout combination of thrash and melodic death metal. The band is Pennsylvania's CROWN THE LOST and the album is "Blind Faith Loyalty".

What you get is locomotive-powered, yet tasteful, musicality that meets somewhere between modern thrash and IN FLAMES/AT THE GATES melo-death propulsion with a proggy air, the sheer strength and melodiousness of Chris Renaldi's singing, and songwriting that demonstrates care and effort. It all adds up to a fairly unique style. This is a contrast that pays big dividends. At one end you're being lacerated with the blazing axes of guitarists Joe Bonaddio (lead) and David E. Gehlke (rhythm) with the pummeling percussiveness and thunder of drummer Kevin Antonacci and bassist Shaun Gunter, and at the other you're sucked into the outright majesty of Renaldi's commanding voice, an attribute that pushes the melodies into rapturous territory. Joe Banaddio's death growls add another effective dimension to "Defame the Hypocrites", "Bound to Wrath", and "Privation". While there are no weak tracks, "Drawing the Parallel", "Impose your Will", and the aforementioned "Privation" are the most memorable cuts, thanks to the gripping refrains.

In fact, when Renaldi hits those King Diamond falsettos on the album's strongest song, "Privation", the effect is spine tingling, just as it is on "Bound to Wrath", which brings me to the only real issue with "Blind Faith Loyalty". Renaldi needs more of those moments when he breaks from his somewhat predictable patterns. With a few exceptions (ones that make a compelling case),you'll tend to notice how little the patterns change regardless of what is going with tempo and arrangement. It is a very minor criticism though, as his pure power and the elegance he brings to the table are key factors in making "Blind Faith Loyalty" such a robust affair in the first place. And it sure as hell isn't a reason to pass on this one. CROWN THE LOST is really onto something here.