Band: Kingcrow

CD Title: “Phlegethon”

Label: Scarlet Records

Label Website:

Release Date: 2010

I’ve said this before, but with so many bands choosing the prog-metal route the challenge really becomes making sure you craft a unique sound. It’s simply too easy to get lost in what I’d call “the-crunchy-guitar- driving-bass-pounding-drums-layers-of-keyboards-and-aggressive-vocals” syndrome where everyone starts sounding the same. Fortunately Italian prog-metal band Kingcrow seems to have found their musical mark. And it’s a good one, solidly on display on their fourth studio release Phlegethon. This dynamic sextet is made up of Diego Cafolla (guitars), Ivan Nastasi (guitars), Diego Marchesi (vocals), Francesco D’Errico (bass), Manuel Thundra Cafolla (drums) and Cristian Della Polla (keyboards).

What we’re looking at here is a disc of twelve tracks that manage to encompass the very soft and delicate through to harder more aggressive musical aspects of the band and it is this wide dynamic range that I find so appealing. Things get underway with “The Slide” [2:38] which starts with the sound of the surf before a spacey keyboard drone starts up all leading the way for a dramatic march in a grand pomp and circumstance style. The rather short song is a perfect introduction what follows. The heavier, rockier side of the band is on full display as the music segues into the instrumental track “Timeshift Box” [3:47] but even here while guitars are switched to full-on assault, the keyboards are providing some very nice string atmosphere. At about the two-minute mark the song changes tempo for a brief interlude, before resuming a more up-tempo finish. The next track “Islands” [5:16] begins with some pleasant acoustic guitar overtop of a pulsing keyboard tones. The vocals are strong, aggressive at times but never over-the-top. There are some brilliant hard driving crunchy guitars riffs counterpointed with some exquisite ringing acoustic guitar. The band also has a nice way of coming in with a flourish to drive the song onward and the musicianship is tight which is handy since many of these compositions offer many musical change-ups in time and tempo. There are even times where they inject some Mediterranean sounding moments into their music. It’s one of the many things that contribute to their unique approach.

The more time I spend with the music of Kingcrow the more impressed I became. They’re a band who can certainly rock but they seem to take great pleasure in inserting softer moods into their compositions. More than once I detected a kind heavy-Pink Floyd influence, a guitar note here or a keyboard tone there, but it’s a musical thing they’ve made their own. I’m positive Kingcrow’s music will appeal to the prog-metal crowd but I’d suggest Phlegethon has much to offer heavy symphonic prog fans as well. It’s a great disc, very satisfying and well worth getting into.