Crown Of Glory: Ad Infinitum

Finally, a band that can restore my faith in the European power metal scene! Yeah, OK, that’s an exaggeration, because there are plenty of European metal acts of power storming the castle walls with bristlingly heavy outbursts that leave a lasting mark. However, along the way, too many of the newer kids on the battlements are shelving their guitars and replacing them ever more increasingly with synths, to the extant that their power metal lacks for… well… power.

Up step Crown Of Glory with their third outing (their first two passed me by and I’m going to rectify that pronto) Ad Infinitum, where a hitherto difficult balance between pumping keyboards, hammering riffs and soaring but gritty vocals meshes to near perfection. Boasting a past link to melodic rock and AOR, that this Swiss outfit can incorporate parping keys into their sound should come as no surprise, but that they manage to “Let’s Have A Blast� in that exact fashion while still making sure that the guitar duo of Markus Muther and Hungi Berglas still take prominence - just - over Oliver Schumacher’s banks of keyboards is not just impressive, but something of a relief. That trio, however, aren’t the only stars here, the rhythm section of drummer Lukas Soland and bassist Jonas Lüscher laying down the bottom end thick and, when the need arises, fast, building the perfect foundation for singer Hene Muther to put in a captivating performance. Landing somewhere between Roy Khan and Mike Tramp (in Freak Of Nature mode), he’s a true powerhouse and while his more growled attempts (of which there aren’t too many, thankfully) are a little tame, when he plays to his strengths, he is a real force to be reckoned with.

“Emergency� is a perfect example of what Crown Of Glory have up their sleeves, with energetic guitar outbursts eagerly supported by Schumacher’s bolstering keys-work. And when combined to a superb vocal cameo from ex-Burning Witches front-woman Seraina Telli on “Something�, the effect is quite spellbinding. A couple of slow numbers show that when the mood takes them, this lot can pull off the much missed power ballad, with “Surrender�, mainly through Hene Muther’s Mike Tramp-isms, surprising by reminding of White Lion, but in all honesty it’s the foot on the monitor riff chasing rockers that really make this album explode - “Master Of Disguise�, “Say My Name� (which reminds of Destiny era Saxon in places - and that’s a good thing) and “Let’s Have A Blast� impressive indeed. That latter of those cuts, along with “Glorious Nights� may well have slightly ridiculous lyrics recalling gig-nights, but when their choruses are as stupidly contagious as they are, then who cares?

Being completely honest, there’s nothing earth shatteringly original on Ad Infinitum, and neither are this band offering up some new world vision that’ll have you questioning humanity’s place in the grand scheme of things. However, what Crown Of Glory are able to do - huge choruses, mighty riffs and hook laden songs - is catchy as hell, stick in the mind memorable and stupendously good fun and that’s something we all need from time to time.

Track Listing
1. Emergency
2. Something
3. Let’s have A Blast
4. Emporium Of Dreams
5. Surrender
6. Infinity
7. Glorious Nights
8. Make Me Believe
9. Laster Of Disguise
10. What I’m Made Of
11. Until I’m Done
12. Say My Name

Added: March 13th 2021
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Crown Of Glory online
Hits: 1116
Language: english

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