I have to admit, I thought this was the American (Vermont) doom band when I looked at our review list. This is a band from Finland and are classed as melodic heavy metal. There is a lot of folk influence in the sound and vocal style, I don’t get the Pagan Altar and Manilla Road comparisons though. The stark reality hits you with the opener ‘Night’s Hands’. The vocals may not be all that strong, but the story and the delivery gets to you and draws you in. The album title track is a real good (often used term) “epic”. Once again clocking in over 7 minutes, the style is invigorating and the inclusion of a flamenco musical section, well, that’s simply genius. It shouldn’t work, but it does. It gives a touch of mysticism to the lyrics as a bonus also. It is playful and inventive. If you take some Wishbone Ash and even some Lindisfarne, you get a mere glimpse of Chalice’s no boundary approach. This is certainly music that transcends sub-genres and takes you on a journey with it.

I’ve listened to this rather a lot, I find different sounds each time I do so. Whilst I wouldn’t say this album has any stand out moments, I would recommend listening as an album. ‘Trembling Crown’ is a journey that you have to be a part of for all of the journey. As I have mentioned, it’s not a “normal” album, if ever that is ever applicable, its genius without chaos, its written to tell you the story straight and the sounds that are such re-created really take your personal inspiration to other places that mere, prog, hard rock and metal etc…could take you. There are synths, doom sections, straight up occult rock stylings and a lot of folk and world music intertwined.

I am not a huge fan of this if I am honest, but I will commend and applaud the arrangements and song writing. It’s a breath of fresh air to hear so many different influences from one band or album, whether I like it or not I don’t feel is my job here. Thus, for that, I have graded as I have. It is an album that can grow your musical horizons and is very cleverly executed.

(8/10 Paul Maddison)

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https://chalicefin.bandcamp.com/album/trembling-crown