EIDOS

This is the latest offering from Italy's KINGCROW. I have their 2010 release called "Phlegethon" and we get the same lineup except for the bass player. This has a little bit of a different flavour than "Phlegethon" as this band has tried to change it up some. I have to say that after one listen I was ready to write it off which would have been a mistake on my part. Each listen since has made me like this recording more.

"The Moth" starts off so good with that guitar then it builds. I'm not big on the strummed guitar with vocals that follow though. The chorus is quite heavy. The tempo picks up as they start to let loose. Themes are repeated. I'm also not into the vocal arrangements late that end it. "Adrift" is a top three track for me. A nice, fairly heavy sound early on as the vocals join in. Great instrumental sound 3 1/2 minutes in to almost 5 minutes. A feel good vibe with vocals follows. "Slow Down" starts well but then we get these almost robotic sounding vocals that i'm not that into. It then turns heavy. There's something familiar about this song at times. "Open Sky" is my favourite. I like the relaxed mood and I find it uplifting at times. "Fading Out(Part IV)" is catchy with a lot of strummed guitar and vocals.

"The Deeper Divide" is ballad-like to start with vocals. It starts picking up 2 minutes in as the contrasts continue. Nice guitar solo 4 minutes in. "On The Barren Ground" is a pretty good rocker. Love the atmospheric section before 4 1/2 minutes to the end. "At The Same Place" features acoustic guitar and more as the relaxed vocals join in. It does turn heavy but then we get a calm after 4 minutes but it does pickup again. Good song! "Eidos" is the final top three. A heavy intro is replaced before a minute by a mellow soundscape reserved vocals. It then turns fuller. I just really like how this sounds and I like the contrasts. Great sound after 4 1/2 minutes and a minute later as well. "If Only" opens with acoustic guitar ad atmosphere as soft vocals join in. It eventually starts to turn fuller then a calm arrives before 4 1/2 minutes with relaxed guitar. Killer bass a minute later as it builds.

Man this one grew quickly on me and i'm really surprised to be giving this 4 stars. I had a similar experience with "Phlegethon" and in fact had a listen to it yesterday just to compare them. Prog-Metal fans should really check these Italians out.