Crown of Glory – A Deep Breath of Life

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Metal Heaven
Produced by Crown of Glory

The rise of Swiss rock and metal over the last decade continues with yet another band releasing a strong debut album (despite being originally formed in 1998), this time of catchy, melodic power metal.

Crown of Glory are led by brothers Heinz (vocals) and Markus (led guitar) Muther and they have previously issued two self-released mini-CDs Destiny in 2001 and Spirit in 2005 which saw them take supporting slots with Doro, Candlemass, Axel Rudi Pell and Blaze, amongst others. Finally inking a deal with German label Metal Heaven, their debut full-length is the sound of their pure metal sound with a more polished finish than they’ve previously been able to achieve.

On one hand A Deep Breath of Life is reasonably standard, clichéd metal in the vein of Gamma Ray, Helloween and Royal Hunt but on the other there are a lot of positive features to the music which set it apart from some of the less original clone bands around.

Straight away on The Calling you can tell that some brilliant use of keyboards (courtesy of Phillipp Meier) highlights the music instead of overpowers it and none of the songs sacrifice heaviness in favour of an over-sweet chorus. There’s plenty of wonderfully clear, precise soloing and certainly no doubting the proficiency of the band or the singing and strong tracks like The Raven’s Flight, which uses a deeper counter-vocal, slow-paced fist-pumper Inspiration and Mirror, Mirror could sit amongst the best of the genre.

Between the final three tracks everything Crown of Glory have done on this album can be heard. Aside from questionable spelling on Ikarus and some questionable cliché lyrics as well (“don’t fly too high, up to the sky”), the track has some killer riffs and the return of the angry counter-vocal which worked to such good effect earlier on. Then we’re into camp Helloween-mode on See You Rise, a style that characterises a couple of other songs as well, before genuinely emotional power ballad closer The Lament of The Wind.

Mixed by European super-producer Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69 bassist) the sound is obviously near enough perfect, allowing the band’s performance to be the only thing the listener needs to be concerned with. Recommended for fans of Stratovarius, Rhapsody of Fire (with less keyboard-overpowering) and other rising Swiss rock bands like Shakra.

“ wonderfully clear ”

Tracklist: The Calling / Pathfinder / The Raven’s Flight / Inspiration / The Prophecy / Save Me / Anthem of The End / Mirror, Mirror / Ikarus / See You Rise / The Lament of The Wind

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2008, Albums, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Crown of Glory