Cruz Del Sur
2006
1. Above Mere Mortals
2. Slaves To The Metal Horde
3. Rise Of The Red Crescent Moon
4. Burn With Life
5. The Last Of My Kind
6. North for The Winter
7. The Path Once Chosen
8. The Great Devoid
9. Unfinished Ashes
10. Await The Champion
11. The Passing
Crescent Shield is a band I have been watching for awhile now as I am both a fan of Destiny's End and Onward. Both bands had sadly abbreviated careers considering their potential and the concept of bringing both the guitar power of Destiny's End and the vocal majesty of Onward certainly is an appealing one to me. Really I more or less heard this album some time ago as a demo, but I've been waiting on the finished product.
Michael Grant and Dan Delucie seem to compliment each other quite well as the sound comes together somewhere between both's last works. Certainly there are reminders of Destiny's End guitar work in the more ripping moments, but Michael Grant brings more of a melodic, powerful approach to the music than the wails in Destiny's End. More or less the guitar varies from a subdued chug that highlights Grant's vocals in the slower parts to some shredding leads in songs like Above Mere Mortals and Slaves To The Metal Horde. There's also something about this release's sound and production that makes it seem like a very traditional slice of american metal while also retaining the epic touches of the more european power metal. A pleasant blend to these ears as it seems epic without being too pompous and overblown. I think my one gripe with this release is at times the guitar does take a little too much of a backseat. The most obvious case of this is Rise Of The Red Crescent Moon where a slow, steady, and somewhat repetitive chug gos through the motions while Grant does his thing. That would have to be my least favorite on the album... especially since other tracks and past works show Delucie capable of so much more on guitar. A minor gripe though as there is plenty of solid axework elsewhere on the album and it's the only track I find is really dragged down by the chuggier guitar parts.
All in all, fans of their past works would be advised to check out this release, as would any fan of this sort of stripped down american power/traditional sound. Crescent Shield certainly does slide into the Cruz Del Sur catalogue easily alongside artists such as Pharaoh and I have no doubt this band will find it's niche.
Highlights: Above Mere Mortals, Burn With Life, Await The Champion, The Passing
Rating - 4.0/5
2. Slaves To The Metal Horde
3. Rise Of The Red Crescent Moon
4. Burn With Life
5. The Last Of My Kind
6. North for The Winter
7. The Path Once Chosen
8. The Great Devoid
9. Unfinished Ashes
10. Await The Champion
11. The Passing
Crescent Shield is a band I have been watching for awhile now as I am both a fan of Destiny's End and Onward. Both bands had sadly abbreviated careers considering their potential and the concept of bringing both the guitar power of Destiny's End and the vocal majesty of Onward certainly is an appealing one to me. Really I more or less heard this album some time ago as a demo, but I've been waiting on the finished product.
Michael Grant and Dan Delucie seem to compliment each other quite well as the sound comes together somewhere between both's last works. Certainly there are reminders of Destiny's End guitar work in the more ripping moments, but Michael Grant brings more of a melodic, powerful approach to the music than the wails in Destiny's End. More or less the guitar varies from a subdued chug that highlights Grant's vocals in the slower parts to some shredding leads in songs like Above Mere Mortals and Slaves To The Metal Horde. There's also something about this release's sound and production that makes it seem like a very traditional slice of american metal while also retaining the epic touches of the more european power metal. A pleasant blend to these ears as it seems epic without being too pompous and overblown. I think my one gripe with this release is at times the guitar does take a little too much of a backseat. The most obvious case of this is Rise Of The Red Crescent Moon where a slow, steady, and somewhat repetitive chug gos through the motions while Grant does his thing. That would have to be my least favorite on the album... especially since other tracks and past works show Delucie capable of so much more on guitar. A minor gripe though as there is plenty of solid axework elsewhere on the album and it's the only track I find is really dragged down by the chuggier guitar parts.
All in all, fans of their past works would be advised to check out this release, as would any fan of this sort of stripped down american power/traditional sound. Crescent Shield certainly does slide into the Cruz Del Sur catalogue easily alongside artists such as Pharaoh and I have no doubt this band will find it's niche.
Highlights: Above Mere Mortals, Burn With Life, Await The Champion, The Passing
Rating - 4.0/5
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