Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
December 2024
- After Lapse: Pathways
- Illusion Force: Halfana
- Powell-Payne: Voilá
November 2024
- Sunstorm: Restless Fight
- Storace: Crossfire
- Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
- Lionville: Supernatural
- Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
- Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
- Lonerider: Down In The Dust
- Seventh Crystal: Entity
- Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
- Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
- Impellitteri: War Machine
- Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter
October 2024
- Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
- DGM: Endless
- Daytona: Garder la Flamme
- Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
- Frost*: Life In The Wires
- Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
- Fans Of The Dark: Video
- Radioactive: Reset
- House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
- Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire
September 2024
- Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
- Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
- Eclipse: Megalomanium II
- SteelCity: Reverence
- Hydra: ReHydrated
- Heartwind: III
- Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
- Find Me: Nightbound
- The Nail: The Nail
- Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
- Stryper: When We Were Kings
- Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
- Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
- Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly
August 2024
- Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
- Paralydium: Universe Calls
- Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
- Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
- All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
- Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
Twins Crew: The Northern Crusade
Twins Crew: The Northern Crusade
Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal
4.5/5.0
Website
Facebook
YouTube
Scarlet Records
by Craig Hartranft, 07.31.2013
Sometime after their second EP, Twin Demon, in 2009, Sweden's cut their first album Judgement Night in 2011, which I didn't catch (nor did the band send me as they did with the former). Now they're back with their sophomore effort, The Northern Crusade. Whatever has happened over the past four years has been good for this band.
Twins Crew: we iz metal, we kick u ass.
Melodic power metal is rather ubiquitous these days thanks to it's nearly 30 years of existence and bands continuing to keep the torch burning. Basically, a band either gets it or they don't. Some bands think throwing in clever things into the mix, like death vocals, harsh thrash, or a modern hardcore style, makes it somehow better or novel, when it often doesn't. They don't get it. Alternatively, it can be derivative but still on target akin to great ones from Iron Maiden to Helloween to Edguy. These bands get it. This is where Twins Crew fall in the genre with classic melodic power metal.
Again, not knowing the nature of the previous album, The Northern Crusade is certainly a leap ahead from their earlier stuff. This has all the things that makes for great traditional 'keep it true' power metal: twin guitar leads, galloping but sturdy rhythm section, and strong, sometimes soaring, melodic vocals all sweetened by the correct amount of keyboards. The strength of this album is the simple fact that all these elements are strong. However, conversely, whether its because of the digital promo copy, the mix seems a little soft. And also Twins Crew can sound quite derivative, easily mimicking early Edguy on Blade and Heaven Awaits. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Across the entire album you get what you get, and I repeat myself, strong traditional melodic heavy power metal. Easily recommended.
Twins Crew - The Last Crusader (Official)
Tweet
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
In Short
With Twins Crews' The Northern Crusade, across the entire album, you get what you get: strong, and well-played, traditional melodic heavy power metal. Simple.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]