Epic/Pagan/Viking Metal at its best, through a 'personalized' German band, CROM. The brainchild of ex-DARK FORTRESS guitarist/bassist Crom, this outfit delivers a kick-ass dose of 'spirited' Viking Metal full of melodies, 'mountain top' harmonies, 'wise warrior' vocals and an amalgam that will, no way, live you thirsty. Vengeance is the first full-length release of CROM and I just can't get enough of its tremendous atmosphere.
CROM is not a 'newbie'. Crom started out in the mid-90s with TEARS OF TIME, soon enough to leave it all behind and become a member of German Black Metal warriors DARK FORTRESS. In parallel, he did shape his ideas regarding the CROM project, in 2000 leaving DARK FORTRESS to concentrate to CROM and only. Two demo CDs and the The Fallen Beauty EP (2002/2003) sum it up to CROM evolving into 2007 with the recordings for a full-length release. In the meantime, Crom forms SINDECADE with DARK FORTRESS's vocalist Azathtoh. The Terrorcrowned mini CD remains the collaboration's only release to date.
Enough with the past: Vengeance summons only resourceful ideas at its 'construction' and Pure Steel Records proudly releases an album full of quality. The references to BATHORY's 'epic' era can be an introductive comparison, but sticking to this and only you'll lose the big picture. CROM does not flirt only with crawling tempos; on the contrary, there are various speeds used in Vengeance, from slow-pace 'epic' chants to mid-tempo 'metalum' recipes, to up-tempo revolutionary quests, to fast-pace thunders. The guitars (and the whole songwriting, in general) have this specific 'classic' Metal basis (sharp, melodic, pounding...everything) that can live none uninterested. The guitar leads are also 'classic' Heavy, from the roots of our beloved music (MAIDEN, PRIEST, DIO, WARLORD, MANOWAR and some of NWOBHM).
There are - of course - the acoustic-guitar-driven intermezzos, too, featured in this album. Clean guitar sound, with narrative parts, by Crom or choir parts, that will place you right in the middle of the battlefield, in a 'tale' way you can't resist. There's melody and lurking power all over the album; and that's impressive, not getting bored listening to Vengeance for e.g. ten times in a row. As for Crom's voice; he sings crystal clear, without high-pitched parts, with a mere tension to outcry his feelings, deep-dressed in his role; he is confident, he's wise, his reminds me as if legendary Brian Ross (BLITZKRIEG) would sing this kind of Metal.
The immense cover artwork - designed by Belgian fantasy artist Kris Verwimp (has also made covers for dozens of Metal bands - check here Record Covers ) ties great with the music and the atmosphere of CROM's music. DARK FORTRESS members Seraph and V. Santura has provided help recording with Crom, and - once again - the result is nothing less than impressive. You get 'pagan', you get 'epic', you get 'medieval', you get 'viking', you get all these in a Metal warrior's suede. Not a collection of songs (hence, no individual reference), only a full album. To cut a long story short, one of the most impressive releases of this year.