PHLEGETHON

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:

Phlegethonis 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!

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