Crown Lands: Apocalypse

Well, they almost did it. The duo known as Crown Lands made an album that just about meets the hype it has received. Most people were sour on the two EPs they delivered after 2023’s acclaimed Fearless. I understand: Those works, the semi-ambient, semi-world music instrumental Ritual I and Ritual II, arguably weren’t particularly ambitious and they certainly strayed from Fearless. But I enjoyed them. With Apocalypse, they are largely back to the formula that so many loved on Fearless: Several short or mid-length tunes, along with an epic.

There are two notable differences between the albums, one objective and one subjective to my ears. First, the objective: Apocalypse is 15 minutes shorter, clocking in at a concise 42 minutes. Second, the subjective: I don’t think Apocalypse is as traditionally “progressive� as Fearless. Rather, I view it as a bold and sometimes challenging hard-rock album that more resembles Led Zeppelin than Rush. I mean that not just in the vocals, which this time around sound more like Robert Plant than Geddy Lee, but also in the arrangements. We’re even given a couple tunes that recall hair metal in “Blackstar� and “The Fall,� the latter featuring some disco elements. The low point is "The Revenants I", a ballad that has been a consistent skip for me. Thankfully, it is followed by the majestic closer. At 19 minutes, the title track gives a Crown Lands fan pretty much all that they may want.

This album is excellent at times, but sags somewhat in the middle with tracks four, five, and especially six. So, I can’t quite give it 4.5 stars but, instead, 4 very strong stars.

Track Listing
1. Proclamation I (1:21)
2. Foot Soldier of the Syndicate (4:18)
3. Through the Looking Glass (3:44)
4. Blackstar (4:01)
5. The Fall (4:31)
6. The Revenants I (5:25)
7. Apocalypse (19:01)

Added: May 31st 2026
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Crown Lands @ bandcamp
Hits: 24
Language: english

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