Review: Crimson Shadows - Kings Among Men
By Eric Perzanowski, Contributor
[Napalm; 2014]
Rating: 7.5/10
Key Tracks: "Heroes Among Us," "Freedom and Salvation," "A Gathering of Kings"
Crimson Shadows are a relatively young band out of Toronto. Many would describe the band’s sound as a hybrid of melodic death metal and power metal, though some would argue that melodic death metal is essentially very heavy power metal (but let’s not get into that).
Kings Among Men is Crimson Shadows’ second full-length album and first entry in discography as a signed band. One of the perks of signing to a record label is access to better production, something Crimson Shadows take advantage of on Kings of Men. Three remastered tracks from 2013’s EP Sails of Destiny appear on this latest release and there is notable improvement in the production when compared to the EP. In particular the guitars have a stronger, crisper sound.
The inclusion of the three tracks from Sails of Destiny can be seen as both a positive and a negative. It’s nice to hear the songs mix cohesively on a full-length album but at the same time, one may wish the band had let that material be and open up for newer content.
Vocally, Crimson Shadows take the harsher vocal approaches of melodic death metal and mix in the cleaner approaches typically seen in power metal. The use of both styles is somewhat unique. The severe vocals are usually heard during the verses of the songs and in a backing role during choruses. At times, vocalist Jimi Maltais is reminiscent of Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth.
Track by track, there is not a weak spot on Kings Among Men. Each song stood out in its own right and selecting a handful of favorites proves difficult. If there is a flaw to be found on this record, it’s that this band uses one formula perhaps a little too often. One could potentially see it becoming stale if there is absolutely no growth shown on future releases.
Kings Among Men is an album that should hopefully put Crimson Shadows in the minds and ears of many metal fans. It’s by no means a revolutionary album, but these epic anthems of battle are quite refreshing in their own right.
