Monday 17 August 2020

Black Crown Initiate - Violent Portraits Of Doomed Escape


Monday, a new week is here and it's time to introduce this week's "Record Of The Week".

"Violent Portraits Of Doomed Escape" is the latest album release by the Pennsylvania based progressive death metal group BLACK CROWN INITIATE. The band formed in 2012 and self-released their first EP Song of "The Crippled Bull", which was met with positive reviews. They began touring relentlessly in early 2014 with fellow extreme metal bands such as GOATWHORE, BEHEMOTH, and 1349, and lead to them being signed by eOne Music in June 2014. With eOne, they have released both "The Wreckage Of Stars" and their most recent effort "Selves We Cannot Forgive", which was released on July 22, 2016.

The origins of the name "BLACK CROWN INITIATE", there is a Tibetan spiritual leader that wears a black crown to signify help for humanity. We are all pervert pigs so we help by showing people that, first about ourselves.

"Violent Portraits Of Doomed Escape" was released on August 7, 2020, on Century Media Records. Their recent masterpiece was recorded by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland which have already collaborated with several Bands like RIVERS OF NIHIL, AUGUST BURNS RED and LORNA SHORE.

"Violent Portraits Of Doomed Escape", Is something I have unconsciously longed for, wonderfully moaning, disturbing tones, bumpy harmonies, and other difficult pronounced oscillations. From the opening acoustic guitar tones of "Invitation", the slightly sad and clean vocal that sings a couple of lines until a crescendo of brutality overwhelms the tune with "Born, and set loose with his lust and his violence" and the tune takes a new turn. The driving rage of the harsh vocals and the musical mayhem slows down a notch and get mixed with clean vocals and a slightly more controlled state. Technical and progressive metal at it's best. Where bands like DREAM THEATER, OPETH, and FAIR TO MIDLAND comes in mind. The wonderful craziness continues over the rest of the album, it's like a perfect 5 meal dinner, where you get the best off everything is small portions and on top of it a production that sounds as good as a glass of fine vintage wine. From the epic "Son Of War", via the thunderous "Trauma Bonds" to the marvelous "Years In Frigid Light" where we get served a musical brilliance that is totally jaw-dropping. When we reach the middle of the album, we get served some instrumental Tibetan vocal warm-up with some throat singing in "Bellow". Back on track for part two on the record and "Death Comes In Reverse" is a little more withdrawn but "Jesus" so wonderful, what a flow. "Sun Of War" opens with a beautiful soft guitar intro before it shows his true self and burst out into a concrete tulip. "Holy Silence" is a really delicious piece of progressive death metal that leads into a softer note in the instrumental closing track "He Is The Path".

"Violent Portraits Of Doomed Escape" is an excellent album, what impressive musicianship they obtain, brilliant songwriting and I love their mix of the technical brutality and the depth in the melody which is really emotionally compelling. It's really captured me into their world. I Highly Recommend this album.




Musicians: 
Nick “Bass” Shaw / Bass 
Andy Thomas / Guitars 
James Dorton / Vocals 
Ethan McKenna / Guitars

Sum: Wow what an Excellent album.

Today's tune is the brilliant "Sun Of War", taken from "Violent Portraits Of Doomed Escape", enjoy!



More info @

Official Black Crown Initiate Bandcamp

Listen to ”Black Crown Initiate - Sun Of War" on Spotify!



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