The best way to create music is not to be imprisoned by genre’s labels or elements, but to gather ideas to form a musical conception. It means something like ‘why I can’t fuse Heavy Metal with Punk Rock and Hardcore?’, or ‘why not use symphonic elements?’, and so on that enables musicians to create something new. The search for an identity passes by such ways, so you must have in mind: you can’t bring other bands’ releases to your rehearsals, in the will to be what they are, but take their music as references to create your own music. And the Finnish quartet CROWNSHIFT with its first album, “Crownshift”, seems opening new ways for Metal.

Daniel Freyberg (the band’s guitarist that worked as producer, recording, engineering, programming), Janne Saksa (recording of the drums) and Rami Nykänen (mixing, mastering) are the ones gathered to create the sonority of the album. It combines a clean and defined sonority usual for Power Metal acts, but with some abrasive and aggressive instrumental tunes (especially on the guitars), allowing the fuse of elements to be heard and understood at its best. And the Rami Mursula (artwork) and Timo Pollinger (layout) did a great job in the visual presentation of the album.

Musically, it’s not a sin to say that they are combining elements from Heavy/Power Metal in the Finnish trademark with Groove Metal influences. It shows the melodic and technical appeal of Heavy/Power Metal (again: usual for Finnish bands of the genre) with the ‘swing’ of groove, and even traces of extreme Metal genres (as the double bass and blast beats drums parts heard on “Rule the Show”). And it’s really great to hear the final result, because it depicts fine contrasts (pay attention to the creams contrasting with clean Progressive vocals tunes on moments on “Stellar Halo”), and fills the band’s music with personality. It’s different, and again: this form of music can be opening new possibilities.

It's an unforgivable sin to state that one track or another can be said as the best moment of “Crownshift”. From “Stellar Halo” (lovely and precious technical appeal contrasting with a massive weight, with excellent groove parts boosted by sharp guitar riffs and arrangements) to “To the Other Side” (a long song that lasts more than 10 minutes, but that due the rhythmic shifts and amazing melodies one can feel time passing, and what great vocals), passing by “Rule the Show” (a set of extreme Metal influences enters this one, contrasting with Progressive and Groove Metal parts, with an amazing work on bass guitar and drums and even some keyboards can be heard), “A World Beyond Reach” (wow, the combination of Power Metal elements with Groove Metal influences created a huge song with amazing melodies), “If You Dare” (again their personal mix, but here with evident tender melodies), “My Prison” (what lovely melancholic appeal), “The Devil’s Drug”, and “Mirage” (a very good instrumental song), nothing is expandable on this album. But what could be expected of a band with experienced musicians that have names as NIGHTWISH, WINTERSUN, NORTHER, FINNTROLL, BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, CHILDREN OF BODOM and others in their curriculums?

It's surprising to hear “Crownshift”, and it’s truly addictive. So, leave your comfort zones and take this new experience offered by CROWNSHIFT.