KingCrown – ‘Moonfall’

(Rockshots Records)

There are some albums that demand your attention through sheer volume, some that win you over with subtlety, and then there are albums like KingCrown’s Moonfall which simply march through the door, plant their flag firmly in the ground and announce, “THIS is how you do melodic metal!” And frankly, I’m perfectly happy to let them.

Hailing from France, KingCrown have been steadily establishing themselves as one of the more dependable forces in the European melodic/power metal scene, and Moonfall feels like a band that knows exactly what it wants to deliver. This album continues their blend of classic heavy metal muscle, melodic power metal, soaring vocals, twin-guitar firepower and, perhaps most importantly, choruses that are absolutely enormous. And when I say enormous, I mean properly enormous.

These are the sort of choruses that don’t merely sit within the songs waiting to be appreciated. They grab you by the collar and drag you into the middle of the action. There’s a wonderfully old-school sense of anthem-building throughout Moonfall with melodies designed to be shouted back by a festival crowd, fists held proudly in the air and heads banging enthusiastically from the first riff to the final note.

This is melodic metal with its heart firmly in the traditional camp, but KingCrown aren’t simply recycling the past. Their sound has plenty of modern weight and clarity, giving the guitars plenty of bite while allowing the vocals, melodies and choruses to remain front and centre. Simone Mularoni’s mixing and mastering at Domination Studios gives the album a powerful, polished sound without stripping away the character that makes the band so enjoyable.

At the heart of everything is Jo Amore, whose vocal performance is one of the album’s major strengths. There’s real grit and authority in his delivery, but he also possesses the ability to soar when the melodies demand it. His voice suits this material perfectly. He sounds like a vocalist who understands that melodic metal isn’t simply about hitting the notes; it’s about delivering them with conviction. And conviction is something Moonfall has in abundance.

The guitar department of Ced Legger and Bob Saliba is equally impressive. KingCrown operate with a two-guitar attack that provides plenty of crunchy riffing, melodic leads and tasteful soloing. There’s a healthy balance between aggression and melody, meaning the album never becomes a bland wall of distortion. The guitars have personality, and there are plenty of moments where the musicianship shines without ever becoming an excuse for unnecessary showing off. That balance is crucial.

One of the things I particularly enjoy about Moonfall is that KingCrown understand the importance of the song. Technical ability is all well and good, but if the chorus doesn’t stick, the riff doesn’t move you or the melody doesn’t stay in your head, then what’s the point? KingCrown clearly haven’t forgotten that fundamental rule.

There’s also a wonderfully cinematic quality to the album. The lyrical themes venture into science fiction, technology, humanity, time and the uncertain future, giving the music an appropriately epic backdrop. Yet the band never allows the conceptual side of things to overwhelm the music. This isn’t prog metal disappearing down a rabbit hole of complexity. Instead, the ideas provide atmosphere while KingCrown concentrate on delivering straightforward, powerful and memorable metal.

And then there’s the sheer feel-good factor.

Yes, there are darker and more dramatic moments here, but overall Moonfall has that uplifting, fists-in-the-air quality that I always enjoy when it’s done properly. This is music designed to make you feel something. There’s a sense of unity running through the album, an invitation to join the party rather than stand outside looking in.

That is perhaps where KingCrown really succeed. They make melodic metal feel communal.

You can almost picture these songs being blasted across a festival field, with thousands of voices joining in with those massive refrains. The official description of the album talks about its melodic, energetic and unifying approach, and that assessment is pretty much spot on.

There are also some delightful Eighties touches scattered through the album, adding another layer of nostalgia without turning Moonfall into a simple retro exercise. KingCrown clearly appreciate the golden age of traditional and melodic metal, but they’re not trapped there. Instead, they take those influences and give them a contemporary production and their own Gallic personality.

The result is an album that should appeal to anyone who enjoys the melodic side of traditional metal and power metal. Fans of Helloween, classic European power metal and big festival-ready metal anthems should find plenty to enjoy here, although KingCrown are increasingly demonstrating that they have enough personality to stand on their own two feet rather than simply living in anybody else’s shadow.

At around forty-three minutes Moonfall also gets the running time absolutely right. There’s enough material here to feel substantial, but not enough to become bloated. The album arrives, delivers its metallic payload and leaves you wanting to press play again. And that, ultimately, is the biggest compliment I can give it.

Moonfall is a big, bold, unapologetically melodic metal album packed with huge guitars, powerful vocals, epic melodies and choruses that practically demand to be screamed from the rooftops. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it certainly knows how to make that wheel turn at maximum speed.

If you like your metal melodic, muscular and packed with choruses big enough to fill a stadium, KingCrown have served up something very special indeed.

Turn it up. Raise your fist. And get ready to sing along at the top of your lungs. Moonfall is melodic metal with the volume knob permanently stuck at eleven!

‘Moonfall’, the title track gets proceedings underway in suitably epic fashion. Huge guitars, commanding vocals and an immediate sense of grandeur make this a powerful introduction to the album. The chorus is absolutely massive, with the kind of melody that practically demands a crowd singing along. There’s plenty of muscle underneath the melody, but it’s the anthemic quality that really grabs you. A superb statement of intent.

‘Nothing’, a darker, more dramatic edge creeps into the sound here, while KingCrown retain their knack for memorable melodies. The guitars have plenty of bite, and the vocal delivery adds a real sense of urgency. The chorus once again provides the payoff, building the song into another highly effective melodic metal anthem.

‘We Are KingCrown’, well, you don’t get much more confident than naming a song after yourselves! This feels like a band planting its flag firmly in the ground. Proud, energetic and packed with attitude, it has that unmistakable live-show quality. The chorus is tailor-made for audience participation, and you can almost hear thousands of voices shouting the title back at the band.

‘A Thousand Years’, there’s a more expansive, atmospheric quality here, with the melodies given plenty of room to breathe. The song carries an epic sense of scale without losing the accessibility that defines the album. Strong vocals, melodic guitar work and another beautifully constructed chorus combine to make this one of the album’s more memorable moments.

‘Rise Of The Machines’, things get heavier here, with a more aggressive metallic edge perfectly suited to the futuristic theme. The riffs hit harder and there’s a real sense of momentum throughout. Yet KingCrown never sacrifice melody for heaviness. The chorus remains enormous, ensuring this is still unmistakably melodic metal despite the darker, tougher approach.

‘All United’, here we get the album’s message of togetherness delivered with plenty of fist-pumping enthusiasm. This is classic anthemic metal: uplifting, positive and designed to bring people together. The chorus is impossible to resist, while the driving guitars provide plenty of energy underneath. I can imagine this being an absolute belter in a live setting.

‘Lost Horizon’, a more melodic and atmospheric number, with a wonderful sense of adventure running through it. The guitars provide plenty of colour, while the vocals bring an emotional quality to the proceedings. There’s a real cinematic feel here, and the huge refrain gives the song the kind of expansive quality that makes it particularly satisfying.

‘Oblivion Resilience’, the title alone suggests a fight against overwhelming odds, and musically that sense of determination comes through. Heavy riffs, powerful vocals and soaring melodies combine to create another thoroughly enjoyable slice of melodic metal. There’s plenty of dramatic tension before the chorus explodes into life.

‘Back To The 80’s’, well, you know exactly what you’re getting here! KingCrown embrace the Eighties with enthusiasm, bringing a wonderful retro flavour into their modern melodic metal sound. There’s a real sense of fun running through this one, with big melodies and an irresistible nostalgic vibe. It’s a loving nod to an era when choruses were huge and subtlety was frequently left at the door.

‘Beyond The Stars’, a suitably epic way to bring the album home. Atmospheric, melodic and expansive, this feels like the final chapter of a journey that has taken us through technology, humanity, nostalgia and the unknown. The guitars soar, the vocals rise to the occasion and the chorus provides one final massive payoff. A fitting conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable album.

Moonfall is KingCrown firing on all cylinders. This is melodic metal with huge guitars, soaring vocals, infectious melodies and choruses so bombastic they practically demand a raised fist and a shouted sing-along. There’s plenty of Eighties flavour in the mix, but the band deliver it with enough modern power to keep everything sounding fresh rather than nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake. Most importantly, these songs have energy, personality and an undeniable sense of fun. Moonfall is the kind of album that puts a smile on your face, gets your head banging and has you reaching for the volume control before you’ve even realised it. If you like your metal melodic, anthemic and unapologetically BIG, KingCrown have delivered the goods.

8/10

Essential Track – ‘Nothing’

Review by Woody