The new record from Crypt Sermon is finally with us! Released via Dark Descent Records, The Stygian Rose is the third offering from the genre-defying doom metallers.
Guitarist Steve Jansson says, “We wanted ‘The Stygian Rose’ to scratch a lot of itches that aren’t being scratched. That’s my goal when I make music. I want to make things that I don’t hear other people doing or at least don’t hear others doing all in one package. The music also has to have staying power and replay value. [I wanted] that addictive feeling you had when you listened to records as a teenager.”
To be fair to Steve, the opening track ‘Glimmers In The Underworld’ ramps up the excitement for a new record wonderfully. Its rip-roaring guitar solos, unrelenting drums and the recognisable vocal talents of vocalist Brooks Wilson (Unrest) combine into a tempest of damn fun metal with a sprinkling of doomy goodness added in. I was looking forward to giving this record a spin and having such a strong opening track aligns with Jansson’s vision perfectly.
‘Thunder (Perfect Mind)’ is up next and while it slows things down and brings a more dramatic feel to things, it’s still permitted with the same guitar attack and Brook’s silky smooth vocals, it almost feels like ‘Glimmers…’ just melted effortlessly into this track, some superb production work has been already carried out in the early stages of this album. On that note, the press release mentions the band tracked the record with well-respected producer Arthur Rizk (Blood Incantation, Cirith Ungol) and engineer Aidan Elias (Blood Incantation, Wayfarer) at Redwoods in Philadelphia. Together the team have expertly tapped into the spirit that has been present on all Crypt Sermon songs and records up to this point and have succeeded in presenting it in a new and dynamic way which emphasises the band’s wide range and unique qualities.
‘Down in the Hollow’ gives us a dungeon-synth-like intro before leading us into a drum-led, and dare I say thrashy track, reminiscent of the glory days of old-school heavy metal. Bands such as Witchfinder General and Saint Vitus immediately spring to mind when hearing this. For me, this track took me back to when I first discovered Crypt Sermon, stumbling across the excellent The Ruins of Fading Light and then being so impressed I worked my wack back to Out of the Garden. I believe this is part of that “excitement” that Steve Jansson was referring to.
Things get a little more abstract on the melodic ‘Heavy is the Crown of Bone,’ before the record begins to reach its finale with the penultimate ‘Scrying Orb’ bringing back the old-school doom vibes before we close out with the tile track which intros with a beautiful piano piece then shifts into a lengthy piece which encapsulates all of Crypt Sermon’s range and style, if any one track summed up the band perfectly, it’s ‘The Stygian Rose’.
This latest release is well worth the listen for anyone just discovering the band and with its shorter length, works as a great jumping on point. It’s also a great record for the already converted, serving as the logical next step in the band’s storied evolution.
The Stygian Rose is out now via Dark Descent Records
