Crown Lands is a Canadian duo, consisting of Cody Bowles (vocals, drums, percussion, and flute) and Kevin Comeau (guitars, bass guitar, Minimoog, synthesizers and mellotron) and their music features blistering guitars, pummelling drums, and high tenor dramatic and emotional vocals. Apocalypse is a prog rock/metal concept album; or in other words fantasy-themed prog rock, with mythical and mystical themes and concepts. Apocalypse deals with a concept about change and transformation unfolding in a science-fiction universe and it is kind of related to Crown Lands Fearless album, which was released in 2023. The extreme vocals of Bowles are the trademark of Crown Lands, and I think that his really high tenor-like voice - a mix of Geddy Lee (in the beginning of Rush), Robert Plant and Joshua Kiszka (Greta Van Fleet) - are a love or hate thing indeed. Apocalypse opens with Proclamation, which is a panoramic soundscape and an intro to Foot Soldiers Of The Syndicate, a nice rocker with great guitar work and excellent vocals. Follow up Through The Looking Glass is a ballad-like track with a catchy chorus, and this one really reminds me of good old Led Zeppelin; indeed, this is superior rock for sure! Black Star is a mid-tempo song with a soaring guitar solo, and The Fall also features an impressive guitar solo and Bowles' vocals in these two songs truly remind me of Greta van Fleet. But the absolute highlight of this formidable album is the title track, a massive epic, ambitious prog anthem, which clocks in just over nineteen minutes! Apocalypse starts with a sombre keys intro, followed by a 100% Rush-like melody (Xanadu or A Farewell To Kings, comes to my Rush-mind indeed), a melodic guitar solo and at the three minutes mark you can enjoy the first vocals. This is truly a milestone track, as it is so diverse, so many things happen that it is hard to really "get" this prog rock epic at first glance. So, you must press the repeat button a couple of times to really understand and enjoy this prog rock monster! Sad but true, this wonderful album, also features a "horrible" song - at least in my humble opinion - and the song is called The Revenants. This track is in fact a more than five minutes acoustic ballad with over-the-top dramatic falsetto vocals and to me this is an absolute horror song. However, the rest of this album is hugely impressive and highly recommended to fans of mythical prog rock in the veins of Led Zeppelin and Rush. Listening tip: Blackstar. **** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
