Kingcrow are an Italian progressive rock band and this is their eighth album.
I really liked 2015’s Eidos, (and somehow missed its 2018 follow up), so wanted to make sure I caught up with the band for the 53-minute, (with bonus track), Hopium. I was not disappointed.
Kingcrow play music that blends together progressive rock and metal with elements of alternative, ambient, and electronic rock. Hopium offers up a superlative album for fans of the style.
The songs are well-crafted and blur the lines between catchy anthemic stadium-friendly accessibility and intricate progressive rock depth. Of course, the two certainly aren’t mutually exclusive, but it’s great to hear a band combine both style and substance so well. I especially like that they do so with personality and character.
Hopium travels across a range of soundscapes of meticulous design. The music manages to capture the sprit of the 70s progressive sound in a very contemporary way, making for an album that’s resolutely a modern one, but that also has a clear lineage back to decades past. I find this a very compelling mixture, and the songs are highly engaging because of this.
Kingcrow have an idiosyncratic style, filled with quirky and charismatic sounds. The music brims with emotion, hooks, and memorability. The synths are layered and rich, the electronic elements detailed and expressive, the guitars are well-considered and deliver everything from texture to standout riffs, the bass presence notable and impactful, and the drums alive with purpose. Oh, and the vocals? Wonderful throughout.
There are so many reasons that I believe Hopium to be an immensely strong record, but I think the primary one is Kingcrow’s command of atmosphere and hooks. Their ability to combine emotive depth with earworm catchiness is damn impressive.
If you’re a fan of progressive rock then this is an essential listen. Don’t miss out.
Wonderbox Metal 