Genre: Black Metal
Label: NovaEra Records
Line Up: Cronoth - all instruments
Nietzsche, in his masterpiece "The Antichrist", defined the act of embracing the Christian faith in modern times as abominable and the attitude of a man intent on prostrating himself to such obscenity as indecent.
For several decades Black Metal has been putting this controversial thought into music, and the Italians Cronoth also carry out an artistic project, not only musical but spiritual and conceptual.
"Uncrowned King" is an inspired album, the dark and introspective atmosphere that characterizes it from the first notes of the intro, sinister and disturbing, accompanies the entire release.
The most significant tracks are "Punishing Black metal", an authentic manifesto of the exaltation of the black flame, "Goddog" with a guitar riffing closely linked to the Thrash Metal of the 80s, "Dirge of the Forest", a sinister dirge with very melancholy atmospheres close to Depressive Black Metal.
A convincing album from a structural point of view, however, some aspects should be improved to allow the one-man band in question to make that qualitative leap necessary to emerge in a very crowded scene like Black Metal.
In general, the production is approximate: the drums, are poorly maintained and at times monotonous, and the mixing of the voice is too unbalanced on the highs which makes it annoying in some situations.
The guitars are the best part of "Uncrowned King", if they were more enhanced than the sound contour that supports them, the sound would be more balanced and harmonized.
A good start for the Cronoths!
Fulvio JK
