Kev Rowland Kingscrow started as long ago as 1996, and this is their fifth studio album although it is the first one I’ve come across. They are an Italian band and looking at who they have been playing with, and the festivals they have been part of, it seems that they have historically been coming at their music from a metallic perspective. If that is indeed the case, then they have changed tack quite a way and are now much more in the Porcupine Tree/Riverside area with a more atmospheric feel to the music. In fact, they use emotion so much that it can almost be thought of as an instrument in its’ own right and it particularly works well with the more acoustic elements. But, I do believe that here is a band that musically is in a state of flux and they aren’t quite sure what they want to be, which can then be confusing for the listener as well.

There are some songs where they approach it much more from a prog metal perspective, but then mute the guitars and restrict their impact. It is almost as if at times that they want to be Opeth, but are afraid to let loose and really go for it, which in itself is at odds with the more atmospheric and acoustic pieces which almost sound as if they don’t belong on the same album. Their last, ‘Phlegethon’, seemed to gain almost universal praise but I’m not sure that the same will happen this time. If there were more songs like “The Drowning Line”, where there is the impression of a prog metal band trying to get out, then this album would be a much stronger proposition. But, they need to decide what musical approach they are going to follow as although there are some fine songs and performances on here it is too disjointed to be get anything more than 3*’s.

adg211288 In Crescendo is the fifth full-length album by Italian progressive metal act Kingcrow. It was released in 2013. Although my introduction to the group, I’m aware after reading up on them that the band had previously been very much the metal act but then decided to go for a more evenly balanced sound consisting of both traditional and modern sounding progressive metal elements and some quite mellow sounding atmospheric progressive rock. On In Crescendo this usually means employing both styles within the same song.

While the transitions between the two musical extremes are pretty much done flawlessly across the album’s eight tracks, In Crescendo does come across as a bit of a bipolar release to my ears. Mostly that’s in terms of those very different sounds of course but it does come over into the quality a bit as well unfortunately, since listening to the album it’s very clear to me that I’m listening to a band that is more talented at doing their metal side than their mellow side. That’s not to say that Kingcrow can’t do mellow at all, but the stuff on the album in this direction doesn’t move me anywhere near the same way as the progressive metal instrumental breaks do, in which Kingcrow show themselves to be a tasteful, non-showy band. The Hatch and The Glass Fortress showcase this side of the band brilliantly, and are the best songs of the album along with the closing title track.

The album isn’t as such let down by the mellow parts of course, I just feel that Kingcrow is the sort of band who could carry an album in a more exclusively metal style a lot better, as when the mellow parts are on I can’t help but be impatient for it to heavy up again. Yet at the same time I think Kingcrow could also make a really great album if they stuck exclusively with the mellow sound. In some ways their lighter music reminds me of alternative rockers Foo Fighters at their most mellow. This Ain't Another Love Song gives me the same sort of vibe as Foo’s classic Everlong. I happen to consider Foo Fighters one of the finest bands of their kind but it isn’t the sort of sound I was particularly looking for from a band primarily known as a progressive metal act.

In all fairness it’s impossible to deny that Kingcrow have a pretty great album on their hands here, one that there’s something for almost every type of progressive fan to be found. Their musicianship is superb, the vocals of Diego Marchesi clear and melodic, albeit perhaps a tad more suitable to the mellow side than the metal and despite some misgivings on my part, there’s never a moment to be found where the album doesn’t manage to work to at least a satisfactory level, and much of it I’d even consider exceptional work. Would be it be better if Kingcrow played to their apparent strengths a little more? Probably. Do I respect them more for trying something outside of the equally apparent comfort zone? Of course! A great album tier rating is deserved.

81/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org/kingcrow-in-crescendo-t2806.html))

Time Signature This ain't another love song...

Genre: progressive metal

Italian power metal and progressive metal are notorious for being over the top in terms of cheesiness, but apparently a lot of people like that kind of stuff. I don't have a problem with people liking cheesy music, but whenever a band like Kingcrow comes along, offering progressive metal which is wholly cheese-free, then I cannot help but applaud it.

"In Crescendo" is as far from over the top as can be, as the Kingcrow guys seem to focus on quality solid songwriting rather than self-indulgent display of their musicianship. Thus, with the exception of the title track, the songs are pretty short and compact (for progressive metal that is), with an average length of about 5-6 minutes. The album is, while obviously sophisticated, very accessible and listener-friendly, drawing on both metal and alternative rock.

Make no mistake about it, these guys know their way around their instruments, and, when push comes to shove, they definitely are more than capable of hurling technically advanced solos in your direction, but their main focus is the songwriting. Drawing on a variety of rock, hard rock, and metal sources (there are even some funk-elements every now and then), the song on the album are dynamic and interesting and, at the same time, quite catchy due to the melody of the vocal lines. Featuring keyboards which are at time spacey, at times atmospheric, and at times symphonic, "In Crescendo" is both progressive and eclectic, and serves as a nice alternative to the brand of progressive metal spearheaded by the likes of Dream Theater.

"In Crescendo" is, for my money, a very interesting album which successfully combines progressive metal, progressive rock and alternative rock into a quite original, totally cheese-free, type of progressive metal. Fans of Haken, Porcupine tree, Aeon Zen, and the less extreme version of Opeth are likey to enjoy the album.