Crown Lands: White Buffalo

I can’t lie. I’m completely and utterly hacked off at continually being presented the next big thing. Rock n’ Roll doesn’t need saving and it never did, although the music industry, well that’s another matter.

So, the next big thing are, supposedly, Canada’s Crown Lands, a couple of lads who like to dress as though Ozzy had been invited to join a Lynyrd Skynyrd plays Rush tribute band. Their promo-shots are painful, brave and ridiculous in equal measure. Press play on their new four track EP however, and suddenly none of that matters.

First up, the sound is huge (take a bow producer David Bottrill), the instrumental tones of “Inner Light� absolutely bulging from the speakers as Eastern percussion creates an atmosphere that’s obliterated by the drums of Cody Bowles and the remarkably English sounding prog rock guitar crunches from Kevin Comeau. And yet somehow Rush are also brought to mind in this concoction, and Led Zeppelin, the latter a feature in the band’s earlier work that’s thankfully been toned down here (are you listening Greta Van Fleet?). From there it’s the bright guitar stabs of the title track that dig in deep, Bowles Ozzy meets Robert Plant vocals making their first appearance here - and how! The guitar solo feels part Kansas, part Zeppelin but fully magnificent. And when the chorus surges into view, it’s seriously difficult not to simply get swept up by the whole thing.

“Witching Hour� first appeared on the all acoustic Wayward Flyers Vol I release, but here with the added “(Electric Witch)� suffix, it’s a bulging plugged in beast that romps and rolls for all its worth, this duo once more sounding like a six-piece stretching out and allowing everyone room to show their talents. That this all comes from two musicians makes little sense but let’s just be grateful for it. With the thirteen minute “The Oracle� a shimmering study in dynamics and patience where Bowles vocals really are utterly captivating, you really are left marvelling at what has been achieved here.

I’ve no idea if Crown Lands are the next big thing but what I do know is that their White Buffalo EP is really quite outstanding and if they can maintain this standard, then there’s simply no denying that Crown Lands could be any shape or size they want to be.

Track Listing
1. Inner Light
2. White Buffalo
3. Witching Hour
4. The Oracle

Added: October 20th 2021
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Crown Lands online
Hits: 707
Language: english

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