When we last heard from epic doom disciples Crypt Sermon, it was under their blackened thrash alter ego, Daeva. The outfit, consisting of 1/2 Crypt Sermon members, dropped one of the most ferocious albums of 2022 in Through Sheer Will and Black Magic, showcasing a whole new dimension of metallic brilliance this band was capable of. But alas, after 5 long years since their last opus, The Ruins of Fading Light (2019), guitarists Steve Jansson and Frank Chin, as well as drummer Enrique Sagarnaga, have been called back to join powerhouse frontman Brooks Wilson for Crypt Sermon’s third offering, The Stygian Rose.
In the half decade that has passed since we last heard from Crypt Sermon proper, a lot has changed. For one, they’ve been rejoined by Matt Knox (singer/guitarist for Horrendous) on bass who makes his studio debut on this here album. Furthermore, they’ve been joined by veteran keyboardist Tanner Anderson, which had me excited from the get go. Unlike most modern doom outfits, Crypt Sermon’s songwriting and arrangement approach is epic and ambitious as is. As far as I was concerned, adding a keyboardist to the mix would only expand upon this method further. And yet these personnel changes within the Crypt Sermon camp aren’t even the biggest shakeup on The Stygian Rose. No, the biggest shift is in the music itself.
Whereas Crypt Sermon’s first two albums were epic doom monoliths in the grand tradition of Candlemass and Trouble, The Stygian Rose sees a departure towards a far more progressive and traditional approach. Think “power-doom”, but with the doom portion of the equation taking a backseat. This isn’t to say The Stygian Rose is completely devoid of its doomy moments. Cuts like the dark “Thunder (Perfect Mind)”, knuckle dragging “Heavy Is the Crown of Bone”, and grandiose closing title suite would fit right in on the aforementioned Ruins of Fading Light or The Garden (2013). However, it’s when Crypt Sermon steps outside of the doom metal box that The Stygian Rose shines even brighter.
One can’t deny the Sirens era Savatage influence of “Glimmers in the Underworld” and “Down in the Hollow”. The one time Ozzy Osbourne meets Eric Wagner vocal delivery of Wilson has since transformed into the reincarnation of Jon Oliva circa 1983, grit, power, and all. Meanwhile, guitarists Jansson and Chin must’ve studied Criss Oliva, contrasting majestically dark, pummeling riffage, with an unorthodoxly exotic aura and absolutely face-melting leads. The epic ballad that is “Scrying Orb” is another standout, boasting gentle passages that lure you in with melodic emotion, before devastating us with menacing trad. doom riffage.
I guess the point I’m getting at is while The Stygian Rose is an epic doom album in spirit, doom doesn’t appear to be the backbone of the compositions themselves, and I feel that Crypt Sermon’s music has flourished as a result of this maturation. Their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the metal underground had already been cemented. Now it’s just being expanded upon even further and I’m gladly along for the ride. I look forward to whatever it is this new and improved Crypt Sermon is capable of in the future. Until then, I’ll glad lurk “Down in the Hollow”.
10 out of 10
Label: Dark Descent Records
Genre: Epic Doom Metal
For fans of: Savatage, Candlemass, Trouble