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the Hobo Review

Crown � Possessed 13

The Crown formed in 1990 under the name �Crown Of Thorns� in the sterile industrial city of Trollhattan, Sweden. After hooking up a deal with indie Black Sun Records, they recorded their full-length debut �The Burning� in 1995. The debut release generated enough press coverage for the band to score a spot on the Slayer tribute album �Slaytanic Slaughter� in 1997 � subsequently drawing enough attention to the band for a Christian rock band of the same name to force �Crown Of Thorns� to shorten its name to simply the �Crown.� 

After extensive touring the band recorded �Eternal Death� in 1997, which landed them a new deal with the widely known Metal Blade Records. Since then, the band has released five full-length albums for the label, the latest being 2004�s �Possessed 13.� The Crown have slowly crawled up the ranks of Sweden�s crowded death metal scene to be recognized � not as innovators � but rather as committed, relentless, lightening-fast, face-shredding death metallers.

So now the ever-expanding fivesome return to the studio with original singer Johan Lindstrand (after an album-long stint with ex-At The Gates singer Tomas Lindberg) to give the fans exactly what they want � unabated hardcore death metal.

Instantly one can identify the record�s new production courtesy of Studio Fredman � a nice thick, mud/sludge wall of sound, perfect for Crown�s death/thrash drunkenness and slightly reminiscent of Entombed�s 2003 release �Inferno.� Stylistically, the band hasn�t deviated from what it has solidly delivered over the past 13 years � the musicianship and hectic song arrangements are still marked as a primary feature of the band next to speed and brutality.

Crown is a band that likes to constantly remind us of its rather apparent musical influences. �Are You Morbid?� is an obvious shout out to Celtic Frost (in title only) in which the band discards it�s sludge-riffs in favour for a speed death/roll romp al la Entombed. In �Bow To None� and �Morningstar Rising�, the band channels out strong, mid-tempo tirades of power, mixed with double-time thrash. �Morningstar Rising� builds up to a brilliant crescendo, finishing on a grinding note of power.

In �Kill �Em All� (as the title so obviously screams) the boys take a note from early-era Metallica in a great five minute thrash-piece (�the death machine�s gonna kill em all). Crown go so far as to actually rip off the legendary double-bass fill of Slayer�s �Angel Of Death� in the closing minute of the track � but it is this ironic self-awareness and half-serious sideswipes that make Crown Of Thorns the great band it is. In �Zombiefied!� the band humorously play with B-grade horror film clichés almost to the point of idiocy � also translating in the cover art.

With �Face Of Destruction � Deep Hit Of Death� the band plays with the various clichés of the genre, poking fun at the likes of the Babylon Whores & Children Of Bodom. But predominately on the record (in �No Tomorrow�, �Deliverance� and �Natashead Overdrive�) the band slug out a filthy discharge of sludge, mixed with clever dual-harmony lead licks, and pounding double bass thrown up against Johan�s impressive vocals and the bands own self-motivated pledge to push their music as far as they possibly can.

In �Possessed 13� the Crown has released a powerful and almost playful thrash/death metal romp, reminding us all of the simple joys found in brutal murders, drug abuse, alcoholism and pure, solid, against the grain death metal. While it might be a little hard for the somewhat more weak-willed numetallers to swallow, metal veterans will thoroughly enjoy this disc as I, myself have. 

Crown � Possessed 13
Label: Metal Blade
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
For Fans Of:  Entombed, Lamb Of God 
Rating: 
Best Track: Kill Em All / Natashead Overdrive

Listen to Samples and Purchase Crown's new CD online (w/ bonus DVD)

Visit the official website for more on the band and their new CD!