Review Summary: A crushing, slightly somber take on progressive death metal.
Before I even delve into this album, I want to clear one thing out of the way-this band is not the second coming of Jesus Christ. Although in numerous ways, especially with clean vocals and acoustic passages, this band sounds similar to a modernized version of Deliverance-era Opeth, to let either of these two bands live in the wake in other isn't simply unfair, it is also incorrect. However both bands are amazing, and it is still a compliment to both.
"Wreckage of Stars" is crushing, and I think no other album title is more apt for the albums vibe. The guitar riffs are dense and pummeling, balancing a mix of technical prowess and low powerful chugs. Along with the drums there is a balance between rapid fire chaos, and slow sweeping acoustics which create a mix of breathtaking melodies and unforgiving blast-beat driven power. During the more chaotic moments the bands death metal shines through extraordinarily well, especially off of tracks like "The Malignant" and "Purge". It is also especially during these moments that the vocalists gutturals shine, because to be honest they are some of the most beastly snarls in modern death metal. They are crushing yet oddly clean and well produced, making them stand alongside the music incredibly well.
However great the bands more heavy and raw side may be, it is the balance of tranquility that completes this. The best example is actually the (unfortunately) short final track "Linear". It is entirely clean vocals, and the vocalist builds such a soothing and gorgeous ending into the mix of a relative monster of an album. The clean vocals aren't quite as strong on other tracks, however, which is really my only complaint with the album. They sometimes tend to hug their influences just a bit too much, and this is where the band comes across as a slight Opeth copycat. However even that isn't an entirely an insult, just slightly annoying over time.
In spite of this, Black Crown Initiate has carved themselves a terrific niche in progressive death metal, embodying the greatness of old Opeth without being a complete copy, making them the perfect poster boys for modern progressive death metal.
