A couple years ago when I reviewed Swedish supergroup Crowne’s debut album, Kings in the North, there was part of me that thought it would be the first and last time I’d cross paths with them. After all, as much as I enjoy the output of Frontiers, if I had a dollar for every all-star supergroup/side project they assembled who came and went, well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be running this site. Or maybe I would, but from the luxury of my own private island as opposed to the humble confines of my bedroom and 9 to 5 office.
Yet here I sit, two years later, with egg on my face. Crowne has returned with not just their second album, Operation Phoenix, but a new member as well! Joining the collective of Europe, H.E.A.T, Poodles, and Art Nation members is none other than guitarist Love Magnusson of Dynazty. Yes folks, that is his real name. Magnusson fits two criteria in joining Crowne: He’s Swedish, and as the guitarist for Dynazty, he’s well versed in the melodic/power metal/AOR amalgamation this band has been going for. In fact, they’re not too far off stylistically from his main vehicle, so that’s a plus.
Operation Phoenix isn’t so much an expansion upon what Crowne established on Kings in the North, but rather a continuation. The album opens with its triumphant heavy AOR title track. No matter what style of the metal spectrum they lean on, it’s this uplifting atmosphere which dominates the entire release, especially on power metal driven cuts like “Champions” and “In the Name of the Fallen”, both of which aren’t far removed from say Helloween. “Ready to Run” keeps the ball rolling, with its relentless, upbeat melodic metal pace, while the keys and chorus project a real Deep Purple/Rainbow feel to “Juliette”.
Similar to its predecessor, Operation Phoenix‘s second half tends to be a bit weighed down by repetition and cliché. This is especially evident in the closing ballad “Northern Lights”, which drills its chorus into your head by force. That isn’t to say there aren’t some shining moments scattered about the latter half. “Just Believe” sounds dead on to Final Countdown era Europe, from the vocals and lyrics, to the guitar work and melodies, while “Victorious” sees the band yet again flexing their power metal muscle. If Crowne weren’t a glorified studio outfit and further embarked upon this powerful path, I could easily see them touring alongside the likes of HammerFall and Blind Guardian.
So how does Crowne measure up on unlikely album #2? More or less about the same as album #1. It’s good, but not great. I’m sure those in the melodic rock/metal world will be the first to tell me how braindead I am, how I’ve got lint between my ears, how I have no taste, blah blah blah. And you know what? Maybe that’s partially true. Or maybe this is just another euro melodic metal album that, while satisfactory now, will be trumped by some other release in the vein later in 2023. I’m betting on the latter.
6 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Melodic Heavy Metal
For fans of: Pretty Maids, Dynazty, Europe