Crown Lands are a Canadian duo formed in 2015, offering an eclectic blend of Heavy Prog and Psychedelic Rock with markedly personal traits. Their second full-length entitled “Fearless” was released on March 31, 2023 via Spinefarm/Universal and contains 9 tracks including an 18+ minute suite. The opener “Starlifter: Fearless Pt. II” is an epic suite of over 18 minutes, the second of two parts. The first part develops with an energetic and engaging Rock, with a solid and elaborate rhythm section, enriched by tempo changes and with good melodies and phrasing between guitar and keyboards. Intense instrumental parts alternate with vocals, with the dynamic and expressive vocals being a real added value to the band’s sound. The second part opens with an energetic instrumental section that develops with continuous tempo changes that allow the band to explore all the musical facets that com,pete their personal style. Psychedelia and Progressive are perfectly blended thanks to the personal imprinting of the band, which is adept at enhancing its technique in both composition and performance. The following “Dreamer of the Dawn” is a brilliant and engaging rock-oriented track. The vocalist gives an excellent performance, with dynamic and very expressive singing, while the structure and melodies are more linear. A passage with interesting refrains and a prevalence of intense singing parts, more melodic than the previous suite. “The Shadow” combines classic Hard Rock traits with the band’s personal touch, bringing historical sounds into a modern context. good chtarra work with well-constructed riffs, a solid rhythm section and a more melodic atmosphere permeates the track. The vocals add quality to the song, intensely inrpreting the lyrics and creating engaging refrains. Energetic and with a tight rhythm section, “Right Way Back,” unfolds between continuous tempo shifts and intertwining guitar and keyboards. Accelerations and drumming mark a solid, technical tempo, on which fine guitar work and a dynamic, effects-enriched vocal are modelled. The other part of the album’s title suite “Context: Fearless Pt. I” alternates between heavier passages and symphonic openings. Between Hard Rock and Progressive, it is a constantly evolving track that takes up and evolves the theme of the opener. The influences of the past blend perfectly with the modern touch, making the most of Kevin‘s technique on both bass and guitar. An introductory part with dilated atmospheres characterises “Reflections,” a track reminiscent of the style of bands like Rush. The intensity increases as the minutes go by, with fine guitar work and a dynamic vocal over a solid, elaborate rhythm section. “Penny” is a passage of dreamy acoustic guitar arpeggios alone, which enhance Kevin‘s technique and gently envelop the listener. Returning to the more Rock sounds that characterise the band, “Lady of the Lake,” is a solid and elaborate track. The track’s central theme is developed with technique and quality, in a musical crescendo reminiscent of the style of bands such as Led Zeppelin, with a fine guitarist insert at the beginning of the second part. The vocal returns and with a dreamy-sounding finale, the song closes. The closing track “Citadel” opens with a melancholic atmosphere and gentle piano notes, then develops with pathos and intensity. The band develops the sound with a musical crescendo that evolves the track by increasing the intensity and offering in the second part a refined guitar solo and a rhythmic and energetic finale. A band that confirms and evolves the good things heard previously, once again emphasising their original personal traits. Quality ideas mixed with good technique in both composition and performance make the album very interesting and the tracklist intense from start to finish. A good mélange of Progressive Rock, Psychedelia, Classic Rock that have their personal and markedly original style as a common thread. A recommended listen for all lovers of historical Rock sounds, proposed by this eclectic duo with a fresh and modern, markedly personal touch. The band’s live performances should also be emphasised, always very technical and engaging, enhancing their sound with an excellent and mature stage presence.
Tracklist
01. Starlifter: Fearless Pt. II (18:00)
02. Dreamer of the Dawn (4:03)
03. The Shadow (3:44)
04. Right Way Back (3:51)
05. Context: Fearless Pt. I (7:49)
06. Reflections (5:43)
07. Penny (3:43)
08. Lady of the Lake (5:06)
09. Citadel (5:52)
Lineup
Kevin Comeau / Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Cody Bowles / Drums, Vocals