Bombastic progressive rock/metal Canadian duo Crown Lands follow up their excellent 2023 album Fearless with an equally excellent Apocalypse.
This continues the ongoing Fearless/Starlifter concept/storyline with the bio sheet stating that Apocalypse a century before before Starlifter.
As well as being Canadian, Crown Lands’ style is essentially late 1970s/early 1980s Rush – and that’s no bad thing.
We have the science fiction storyline, dystopia, galactic conflict etc. Think 2112, Xanadu, Cygnus X-1, Hemispheres, Fountain of Lamneth etc. and you’ll be right at home with Crown Lands.
I enjoyed Fearless plenty thus had been looking forward to the arrival of Apocalypse since the release date was announced – and like Fearless before it, Apocalypse does not disappoint. Well, with one exception which I’ll mention later.
Just like period Rush we have tremendous drumming, the big riffs and soaring Lifesonesque solos, spacey keys and synths, Taurus pedals and even a bit of flute thrown in. All making for well constructed and a cohesive feel as the album tells the story.
A short spacey intro leads in to Foot Solider of the Syndicate. A big, booming four minute assault of monster riffs and high pitched vocals to rival the heights of a 1980 Geddy Lee.
Through the Looking Glass begins in a gentle acoustic style with some atmospheric synths building up the when the electrics kick in making it a brooding ballad style with back end power.
Talking of power – Blackstar has plenty of it with a big central hook and melody. As does The Fall.
Then for a bit of respite from all that heavy stuff comes The Revenants. A nicely paced spacey mainly acoustic ballad with a bit of a folksy leaning here and there with the introduction of the flute.
That respite is needed for the set up to what comes next…..the magnificent nineteen minute title track.
Yes – it’ll take you back to Hemispheres territory yet Crown Lands do it their own way as the complexity yet accessibility is quite something as it veers between the full on bombastic to the more “proggier” bits and everything else in between all flowing together.
Here’s a video of it being performed live:
I mentioned earlier that the album does not disappoint – with one exception. That exception being the vocals. Yes – the singing is very much peak Geddy Lee and high pitched. However, the vocal delivery does sound rather strained at time and can get a little grating.
Also, the vocal is often sounding “muffled” if I can put it that way which makes the lyrics pretty much impossible to make out. I struggled even trying to read along from the booklet.
That gripe aside, Apocalypse is a fine album of bombastic prog/metal and more that worthy.
The Fearless story to be continued in further albums apparently. Until then – enjoy Apocalypse.
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