I have to admit that I was intrigued by this here artwork of the debut album, named "Last Century", of the Italian Metal band, KRUNA. People this concept is quite outstanding. I wonder whose vision was to create such a spectacle. Though it is possible to get that information off the internet, it doesn't matter to me while I am trying to decipher the clues and codes of the concept behind this one. I gathered that the $ on top of the king's head is a symbol of wealth and prosperity (or corruption), so probably hopeless rebellion by the poor, reaching for their downfall? Perhaps, though history told us, and still telling at times, a different side of the story. Either way, I was impressed, probably more than the actual music in stored within. Newly signed to the local label of Bakerteam Records, KRUNA, with their debut, tried to ascertain their own style of Metal, to burn bridges, find a niche and rise against the odds of being able to create something that hasn't been there ever. I believe that "Last Century" didn't turn out to be that suitable proof for that wishful thinking and mission, but at least it ended up well for a start.

KRUNA seemed eager to enter their entire mounts of influences within the lengths of eleven tracks, for almost fifty minutes of playing. I know what you are probably thinking, that KRUNA would have to be so darn abundant to achieve that level of songwriting in order to reach that goal. Frankly, I think that they have some work cut out for them. As far as their influences go, there are shards of Thrash, al'a late era of SLAYER and SEPULTURA alongside modern Death combos, so called melodic, as IN FLAMES, SOILWORK while even attaining the holds and hooks of Metalcore gods KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Generally, these guys have been living up to be a melodic Death Metal band. Maybe so, but nothing of their material is even close to the old Swedish Gothenburg truthfulness, possibly the later stages whereas it gone sour. In one way or another, KRUNA were proficient enough to produce several sharp edged songs, while shedding away the lumbering monotony of theirs just for a bit. One of their top powerhouses is their classic Metal oriented twin guitar solo exchanges. I thought at first that I wouldn't be able to capture the sweetness of such peak mementos, but Irvin Sabadin & Enrico Clarin didn't disappoint. Furthermore, there is the album's sound engineering that had me ticked. It appeared to sound quite regular for this type of modern Metal disposition, but it sounded clear enough to present the entire lineup with honors.

Deep down towards the tracklist, I found great pleasures with "Mob" and the final epic tracker, "Armor". Quite weird names for such songs full of content, but KRUNA's state of mind was to be innovative, and also mysterious just for a tad. Both of these songs should be the band's future musical direction. Frankly, "Last Century" holds a lot of banality within its riffing and rhythms. Albeit sometimes kicking hard with great energies, moshpit material no doubt, like "Death Without War" or "Bloody Century", which are fairly impressive on their own, but also repetitive of so much stuff heard quite a lot. On the other hand, the former mentioned tracks take trips off the retaliatory ends of modern Death Metal into harmonic and atmospheric distances with enthralling lead fretwork, assorted songwriting and arrangements and incredible soloing. "Back in Time", is a little of both world, a tough short term bastard with crude melodies, ultimate soloing and insane speeding at the punch lines. Furthermore, even the singing on this one isn't that bad at all; unlike most of the others that spews flatness.

So I come to the end, it started with me being perplexed about "Last Century", but then I found it to be better than tolerable. This crew has the talents to build something above the average melodic Death Metal contraption. Maybe it needs more guts rather than convenience next time, but who knows maybe I will be surprised.