French Extreme Metallers Svart Crown have never been the easiest of propositions, nor the easiest of bands to pigeonhole. Their last offering and creative peak Profane (Listenable) showed that Svart Crown are masters of avant-garde, nausea-inducing Blackened Death Metal. Where, on previous efforts, there was a strong Behemoth worship at play, Profane saw them come much more into their own.Continue reading
France’s Svart Crown announced today they will continue their U.S. trek with Deicide for the remaining show dates.
The tour, which was originally branded as the “Metal Alliance Tour,” featuring Deicide, Hate Eternal, Entombed A.D., Black Crown Initiate, Lorna Shore, and Svart Crown, quickly dissolved after myriad difficulties–both financial and logistical–with Entombed A.D. suddenly shipped back to Sweden post Spokane, WA gig, igniting rumors ranging from deportation to Deicide–related conspiracies.
But after an official statement from tour organizers, Continental Concerts and Metal Alliance, cited financial reasons for the rebranding, the remaining lineup, headliners Deicide and supporting acts Hate Eternal, Black Crown Initiate, and Lorna Shore, rages on, with tour openers Svart Crown still determined to conquer the States.
Svart Crown has issued a statement on the events leading to the tour:
“Unfortunately, our fellow and best tour bus companions Entombed A.D. had to fly back to Sweden, [and] we had then to decide either to do the same and return to France from Seattle, or to find a solution for ourselves (rent a van, driving, sleeping places, etc.) to keep going with the rest of the bands.”
After resolving transportation issues, the band has “decided to CONTINUE ON,” while calling for further fan support.
“[We] thank you for any way you can support us–blast the gigs, check out our merch at our stand […] we will be eternally thankful for any help you can afford, [such as] helping us with tips and PayPal, or even with a place to stay so we keep up!”
Deicide tour dates with Hate Eternal, Black Crown Initiate , Lorna Shore, Svart Crown
Jun 11: LVCS – Las Vegas, NV
Jun 12: Club Red – Mesa, AZ – CANCELED
Jun 13: Mesa Music Hall – El Paso, TX
Jun 14: Depot “O” Bar Live – Lubbock, TX
Jun 15: Empire Garage – Austin, TX
Jun 16: Gas Monkey Live! – Dallas, TX
Jun 18: Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
Jun 19: Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
Jun 20: Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
Svart Crown’s 2008 début album, Ages of Decay, was a tour de force full-length, which introduced the band’s inspired blackened Death Metal infused with bleak melodies and harrowing intensity. Their 2010, Witnessing the Fall, and 2013 Profane albums saw the band evolving their already crushing anthems with inventive songwriting and mature focus. Live excursions supporting the likes of Deicide, Cattle Decapitation, and Cephalic Carnage, in the States and Europe, earned the band both fans and well-deserved praise.
Listenable Records online
LINDSAY O’CONNOR
I wonder if Justin Buell was the sort of guy who was naturally brilliant at everything at school, too? Well, either which way, he sure knows his way around a Death Metal release, providing guitars, bass and programming (I’m assuming from that, the drumming, though phenomenal, is not played by human hands and feet – not that this should detract from the overall praise for this release) as well as mixing and mastering a very pro sounding recording.
Ably backed up by the cleverly pitched vocals of Pete Colucci, Suspended From The Cosmic Altaar (Manicidic) is the debut release of New Jersey duo/project Apocrophex, and it makes a damn fine impression. Sitting comfortably in the Technical Death Metal field, where Apocrophex prove themselves more than able and one to watch is in their ability to be both dextrous of finger and riff, but without sacrificing their ability to pull together listenable and hook-laden, extreme songs.
Technical Death Metal is not just about string-skipped riffs, but about nailing the grooves and giving the listener something to latch onto. Well aware of this, in amongst the taut-to-the-point-of-snapping riffs sit dark discordant melodies, Apocrophex have moments of Morbid Angel’s complex but indelible from the brain once drilled in riffage, and pay reverence to the king and master of the balance of technicality and memorable extreme metal writing, Chuck Schuldiner with ‘Evidence of a Desolate Planet’ falling to its knees at the Human (Relativity/Relapse) altar. Elsewhere, there is an awareness of the role of atmospherics with touches of classic Dissection The Somberlain (No Fashion), adding even more succulent fruit to the pie.
Whether this is a first album or not, Suspended From The Cosmic Altaar would still have made a positive impression; it maintains consistency throughout and is one of the most listenable Death Metal releases for a while. Managing to sound distinctive, referential, be technically precise and memorable is a pretty difficult gig to get these days, but Mr Buell has proven his capability and ability to do just that.
7.5/10
STEVE TOVEY