Power Metal is a scarce commodity over at RMR this year. Don’t ask me why, the crew here usually likes itself a lusty slab of juicy metal. But – alas – pickings have forever been meager so far.
But now, late in the year, KingCrown spake, and their voice is mighty. To the point that the old geezers over at the Review Desk suddenly got jolted awake by some earthquake, good ol’ Poseidon caused over on the Atlantic sea floor. Welcome to Nova Atlantis. Oh, and careful with that trident. Just sayin’.
Once Dream Evil‘s newest epos aired earlier this year, we kind of wondered what it would take to kick energy levels up a few notches and keep them there. It was as if the latter’s offering lacked some serious metal Viagra with a somewhat uneven delivery. A bit later, along came Veonity with a serious speeding problem with all brakes on fire. Long story short, that one didn’t quite satisfy either.
So, here KingCrown rushed onto the scene with a mighty metal roar. Nova Atlantis takes no prisoners and right from the start, you find yourself in its steely claws being fed their metal fare, want it or not. A well-constructed wall of sound takes you on a speed trip down every rabbit hole Heavy and Power Metal has ever visited. And the band sometimes errs a tad too far into that terrible Hair Metal territory (Letter to Myself, for instance). But I’m not suggesting the band visited those horrible times all over again when scores of incongruous acts from the ’80s used gallons of shampoo to improve their sound or something. And in vain, I might add. Instead, KingCrown‘s forays into the hairy realm probably pair best with Twisted Sister’s shenanigans. And that’s a compliment, by the way.
Joe Amore‘s raspy metal pipes truly imbue the record with an exuberant energy necessary to take things to that next level. And by energy, I mean a measured use of his considerable vocal powers. There’s no sign of the dreaded screamo attack so prevalent on other Power Metal records. Together with at times pretty remarkable choruses, this is exactly the sort of meaty punch that we’re looking for on a Power Metal piece. The Bob Saliba / Ced Legger guitar team adds their grain of metal and ensures that the full-blooded legacy of Heavy Metal ain’t forgotten on Nova Atlantis.
And that means next-level riffing that smoothly moves in tandem with some otherworldly shreds and pretty nuclear solos. And that also includes maidenesque galloping passages that appear out of nowhere. Add Sebastien Chabot‘s sturdy and ever discernible bass performance to it and you got yourself a pretty outstanding production performed by a band having fun doing it. Even if the ballad section might not be the band’s strongest suit.
It is true that Nova Atlantis may not be the most accessible of records. At first, the piece sounds like some monobloc metal object forging ahead to destroy everything in its path. But after 2-3 listens variation appears in the record before you and you start hearing the nuances. And where the aforementioned Dream Evil gets more mileage out of Heavy Metal, KingCrown really kicks it up a notch with the Power Metal folks. Right up there with bands like HammerFall, some proggy hints of Symphony X, Helloween, and – yes – Iron Maiden. The mad name-calling nonsense might indicate that this band’s wallowing in the mean mainstream a bit too much. And there may be some truth in that. But Nova Atlantis sports enough heft and savoir-faire to offer that ferocious amalgamation needed for a great record.
In a way, KingCrown found that golden path to speed-laden oomph and originality in Power Metal that DarkTribe is still searching for. And that turned this record into a brutally great kicker worthy of good ‘ol Poseidon on the cover. Oh, and somebody please tell him to stop fucking around with that trident. I can’t stand them earthquakes all the time.
Record Rating: 7/10 | Label: Rockshots Records | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 22 November 2024