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Crescent Shield: The Last of My Kind
 If you've ever wondered what would happen if former members of lower-tier U.S.-based prog-metal bands Onward and Destiny's End got together and made music, Crescent Shield's The Last of My Kind is definitely for you. Recalling Virgin Steele and Jag Panzer, Crescent Shield features ex-Onward vocalist Michael Grant and ex-Destiny's End guitarist Daniel DeLucie, plus drummer Craig Anderson and bassist Melanie Sisneros (who has spent time in the all-female Iron Maiden tribute band The Iron Maidens). The quartet revels in traditional, macho and mid-paced metal, singing songs with titles like "Above Mere Mortals," "Slaves to the Metal Horde" and "Unfinished Ashes." Standout tracks include the title-track anthem and the massive "Await the Champion" and "The Passing," but Grant's affected, European-wannabe voice remains an acquired taste. Unfortunately, much of The Last of My Kind is marred by muddy production, giving the album less dimension than it deserves. Fans of Onward and Destiny's End will be curious about Crescent Shield, but other listeners will find more memorable examples of traditional American metal elsewhere.
Track Listing:
1) Above Mere Mortals
2) Slaves to the Metal Horde
3) Rise of the Red Crescent Moon
4) Burn With Life
5) The Last of My Kind
6) North for the Winter
7) The Path Once Chosen
8) The Great Devoid
9) Unfinished Ashes
10) Await the Champion
11) The Passing
Added: January 26th 2007
Reviewer: Michael Popke
Score:  
Related Link: Cruz Del Sur Music
Hits: 3134
Language: english
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Crescent Shield: The Last of My Kind
Posted by Pete Pardo, SoT Staff Writer on 2007-01-26 16:39:41
My Score:
Band's who are trying to reinvent or re-establish "old school" early 80's metal are certainly commendable, but you need to deliver the goods if you try to do so. Crescent Shield give it a go on The Last of My Kind, and do a pretty good job of it. This band, featuring former Onward vocalist Michael Grant and former Destiny's End guitarist Daniel DeLucie, takes its roots in bands like Manowar, early Jag Panzer, Judas Priest, Fates Warning, Omen, and perhaps Annihilator, and for the most part delivers. Guitar wise, DeLucie lays down plenty of mean and crunchy riffs as well as some lightning leads on songs like "Above Mere Mortals", "Slaves to the Metal Horde", and the epic sounding "The Last of My Kind". However, the vocals of Grant are a tad grating, as he never really strays much from his high pitched, almost operatic metal wail, and by the end of the album it gets a bit tiresome. It's on a song like "The Great Devoid" where he mixes things up a bit, throwing in some mid-range vocals amidst the higher register howls, which work well with the rampaging and crafty riffs from DeLucie.
The Last of My Kind is a decent effort from Crescent Shield, and should appeal to lovers of traditional metal. I think with a little fine tuning, better production, and Grant's willingness to mix up his vocal styles a bit, these guys could make some headlines in the metal world.
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