FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

     
   
   
       
       

Animus E.P.

    
       
       
       
     
             
Crown Solace are a symphonic metal band from the UK formed in 2020 by guitarist Valentyn Tkach - the band completed by drummer Menzies Johnson, bass player Callum Hutchinson, and lead singer Pete Rawcliffe. The five song E.P. 'Animus' is the bands debut, and was released in 2023.    
             
Featuring a sound that mixes symphonic metal with a traditional heavy metal feel, along with harsh vocals, Crown Solace are seeking to re-write a genre owned by the likes of Epica, Nightwish, and Amaranthe. And to be honest, the band have made a stunning entrance, hitting hard with an almighty barrage of soaring vocals against a backdrop of metal music with a very wide array of influences. Opening song 'Inside My Mind' is immediately into its stride - and you'd be forgiven if your initial thoughts are "this is a female singer". 'Cause it's not! The bands singer is a male singer with an incredible range - Pete Rawcliffe's voice soaring to heights that I'd imagine some female singers can't even reach! And then there's the harsh vocals too - supplied by the bands bass player Callum Hutchinson - what a combination! Eat your heart out symphonic metal leading lights, there's a new light in town and it's shining very, very brightly!    
             
I realise I haven't even mentioned the music yet - and that's because the vocals are so stunning. Both of them! 'Inside My Mind' is emphatic, hard hitting and majestic, and will keep you hooked from start to finish. 'Animus', the E.P.'s second song, is also the title of rising Italian symphonic metallers Moonlight Haze's third album - another band with a terrific singer. Although I'll admit Moonlight Haze's album 'Animus' has little to do with Crown Solace's song 'Animus' - it's just that the title reminded me of the album. Anyway, back to the matter in hand, and 'Animus' (the song by Crown Solace) - the soaring vocals remaining incredibly high, yet the harsh vocals taking more of a lead role here, the metal backdrop just as heavy as the previous song. A simply stunning opening one-two, Crown Solace have made one hell of an entrance into the worldwide symphonic metal scene - spectacular may even be a better descriptor to use!    
             
With no let up in either elegance or majesty, Crown Solace stride on with deafening precision courtesy of the heavy hitting 'Dangerous Eyes', and a cinematic atmosphere of the climactic! Bold and beautiful, 'Dangerous Eyes' also fits perfectly into operatic metal territory, the band delivering excellence with every song that passes by. And with only five on offer here, the band have made a phenomenal impact - an impact that's gonna last in the memory for a very long time to come! The title of the fourth song is prophetic in every way imaginable - 'The Sounds That Make Me Feel Alive' is fantastic, in terms of both what it means and sounds like. If ever I write my autobiography, I wouldn't go far wrong to have "The Sounds That Make Me Feel Alive" as its title, for the sounds that make me feel alive are many, and definitely include heavy metal in all its guises!    
             
As for the song itself - elegant, majestic and simply superb. Enough said! Now sadly, everything has to end, and so does this E.P. but believe me it's gonna be on rotation for a while yet! The fifth and final song 'Return To Dust', is the fastest on offer, and allows for some fairly vigorous head banging. Yet it's not all about the pace, Crown Solace introducing mid tempo passages that sweep the listener to a different plane, 'Return To Dust' soaring with the angels in terms of how high the levels of absolutely every aspect of the song are! A simply outstanding debut from a new band making an immediate and stunning entrance into the worldwide symphonic metal scene.    
             
Overall, a breath taking five song symphonic metal release, 'Animus' E.P. is a jaw dropping twenty three minutes of elegant majesty.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Top