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Kings Crown: Closer To The Truth

Melodic Heavy Rock

4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 11.10.2023 | Released: 13.10.2023

Kings Crown is a new project from guitarist Martin Kronlund, associated with Gypsy Rose, Phenomena, and Dogface. Kronlund's inspiration was doing 70's style rock with modern production. He recruited journeyman and fellow Phenomena vocalist to the microphone. Drummer Pontus Engborg came aboard recruiting Bas Berra Holmgren on bass. Kings Crown becomes a quintet with Anders Skoog on keyboards. Closer To The Truth is their debut album on the Frontiers Music label.

Kings Crown: Martin Kronlund

Suggesting an album and music with a Seventies vibe can invoke different elements for different people. Having cut my teeth on rock of that era, I think heavy rock influenced by blues and psychedelic rock, then embellished by Hammond organ and often having soulful vocals. Mostly, arrangements had drive and punch as the bass and drums drove the groove. The final prominent feature was beefy guitar solos.

More or less, these characteristics are found within Kings Crown, notably the strong bass and drum rhythm section and Kronlund's fiery guitar solos. While Small can be soulful, across this album I found him more assertive and direct in his vocal approach. Also, the keyboards seemed more subdued to the point that careful listening is required.

Essentially then, many songs pass as straight up, perhaps heavier, melodic hard rock. Examples include Closer To The Truth, Servant, It's Too Late, and Standing On My Own. Similar yet bumping up the pace are Down Below and Stranger. If there was any song that invoked all the aforementioned Seventies memories it was Stay The Night: rich with thick rhythm and groove, a bluesy undercurrent, and some inspired keyboard play.

All said, with Closer To The Truth guitarist Martin Kronlund's new Kings Crown project offers listeners a album of classic heavier melodic rock driven by a urgent rhythm section and his own fierce guitar work. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

With Closer To The Truth guitarist Martin Kronlund's new Kings Crown project offers listeners a album of classic heavier melodic rock driven by a urgent rhythm section and his own fierce guitar work. Recommended.

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Now entering their second decade in music biz, Sweden's Wildness returns with latest and fourth studio album, Avenger. Band personnel has remained consistent for the last four years with the addition of Erik ... [ Read More ]

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