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.

J-Man A Gem of Modern Prog Metal

Kingcrow is a band that has been around for quite a while, and it's really a shame I haven't discovered them until now. Phlegethon is their fourth album, and if this album is a judge of the quality of their back-catalog, I have a feeling I will be hunting for their first three albums very soon. Phlegethon is a very high-quality modern prog metal release with just about all the right ingredients to make a successful concept album. True, traditional prog metal concept albums have been done many times before, but Kingcrow manages to keep a fresh sound throughout all of Phlegethon. If you're a fan of progressive metal who's in search of a concept album that's not a carbon-copy of Scenes From a Memory, Phlegethon deserves to be in your collection.

Kingcrow has a pretty diverse sound, even though their sound is rooted in traditional progressive metal. I hear Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, and Pain of Salvation influences from the prog metal side of the coin, but there are also distinct Pink Floyd and Marillion influences in Kingcrow's music. Even though they are a prog metal band, there isn't a whole lot of technicality here. Don't expect many guitar and keyboard duals on Phlegethon. Songs like Lullaby for an Innocent are especially soft, and remind me of a Pain of Salvation ballad. There are some heavier tracks like Fading Out Pt. III, however, that give the album some good variation. Strict metalheads may not enjoy the ballads and softer parts of the album, but I personally really enjoy them. I find them to be really beautiful (for the most part), and it rarely enters a notable level of cheesiness.

The musicians in Kingcrow are very capable, and they've successfully proved that shredding isn't the only thing necessary to show your worth. Of all the musicians, I especially have to applaud lead singer Diego Marchesi. He really nails many different styles, and his sound is unique and enjoyable. All of the instrumentalists are highly talented as well.

The production is really good. It's very warm and atmospheric, which fits Kingcrow's sound perfectly.

Conclusion:

Phlegethon is a great album by Kingcrow. I really can't wait to hear more from this band! If you like progressive metal concept albums on the softer and more melodic side, I can highly recommend checking out Phlegethon. My rating is somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars, but I'll go with 4 shiny stars for this gem. Very much recommended for fans of progressive rock/metal!

UMUR Phlegethon is the 4th full-length studio album by Italian progressive rock/ metal act Kingcrow. The album was released in May 2010 by Scarlet Records.

Phlegethon is a 65:53 minute long concept album. The storyline involves love and tragedy as the main ingredients. As such a classic theme. The music on the album is progressive metal with strong ties to neo progressive rock in the vein of post Fish-era Marillion. An act like Porcupine Tree also comes to mind and the bluesy David Gilmour influenced guitar solos gives away a Pink Floyd influence. When the music is most "metal" influenced I´m reminded of the least technical Dream Theater tracks and the music on Phlegethon is overall not that technical in style. There´s an emphasis on pleasant and warm atmosphere instead. The emotional vocal delivery by Diego Marchesi further emphasises this. That´s not to say that the band are not well playing and there are parts on the album that are pretty impressive, so progressive metal fans should not be left too wanting. Tracks like Timeshift Box and the last part of Numb (Incipit, Climax & Coda) are examples of the more technical progressive metal on the album. Just don´t expect this to be a Watchtower clone if you know what I mean. The many soft and mellow parts on the album took me a while to appreciate but the more I listen the more the melodies unfold and the more those parts have become interesting. The fact that all songs are well composed and the musicianship is strong makes up for the most easy listening parts. The latter parts are fortunately few.

The production is warm and professional. A good sound for the music.

Phlegethon is a good release by Kingcrow. I find it to be an enjoyable and pleasant listen. A 3.5 star rating is fully deserved. Fans of progressive metal with a neo progressive rock touch should definitely check this one out. Phlegethon didn´t impress me right away, so this is an album that has grown on me and keeps getting better and better with each spin.