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KINGCROWN “Moonfall”
KINGCROWN “Moonfall”
By Colonel Angus
KINGCROWN is a new band for the Colonel so I went and did my due diligence and researched them for a week. Hailing from France, these guys mix some traditional heavy metal along with a good helping of power metal to create something that, although not unique, is quite good. One of the great things about “Moonfall” is that it doesn’t rely on just one sub-genre but mixes up the whole disk to really give the listener an experience rather than pounding them with the same thing song after song.
Opening the record with the title track, you get the obligatory mellow intro but once it kicks in, we get all the melodic power metal these guys are known for. If you have been a fan of earlier material, then you are getting more of the same, which is a good thing. There is a grand-ness to the material but still keeps plenty of the power metal elements like pounding drumming and epic vocals. Next up, the band opt for more of a chugging metal rocker that starts off with a bit of Celtic flair. “Nothing” really brings home the fact that KINGCROWN are not a one trick pony but they can veer off a little but still stay in their lane. They even add a touch of symphonic metal in the bridge to add another color to their pallet.
“We Are Kingcrown” is a bit of a letdown after the previous stellar tune. This one, musically, is a more than solid piece but the lyrics kind of lose me. It will probably be a great concert song but on record, sitting in my house, it fails a bit. But again, musically, it keeps the quality high. Things improve on “A Thousand Years” which continues their heavy metal meets power metal mix that they showcased on the title track. I don’t know what it is but “Rise of the Machines” pulls in some great 80s metal vibes while the chorus is planted firmly in today’s power metal scene which gives it a quirky (in a good way) overall sound.
Speaking of 80s metal sounds, “All United” had some DIO (the band) inspired guitar work splashed here and there to really catch my attention. Growing up during metal’s heyday, it is great to hear newer bands incorporating some of those elements into their sound. Another stunner late in the disk appears in the form of “Lost Horizon”. This chugging metal tune captures the band at what I think is their best. The song features a number of twists and turns keeping the listener guessing what will come out of the speakers next. Since “Moonfall” is full of great tunes, it’s no surprise that we would get a stunner this late in the game. “Oblivion Resilience” continues with the same chugging style with some great heavy riffing thrown in for good measure. I haven’t mentioned the guitar work yet, but Bob Saliba and Ced Legger need to be commended for coming up with some great riffing and soaring leads that elevate the tracks from your usual power metal outfit.
Finishing off the album, “Back to the 80's” is exactly what you would expect. It takes the listener back to the late 80s with some riffing reminiscent of that timeframe and it really works. It does stick out a little compared to the other tracks but I’m not hating it as it is a really great tune. Capping things off nicely is the stomping “Beyond the Stars”. This is another track that really showcases the best elements of the band and compels the listener to start the whole record all over again (which is the sign of quality disk).
KINGCROWN are worthy of success based on “Moonfall”. With the limited research that I did on the band, this record sounds like a step forward in both songwriting, performance, and production. Not that the earlier material lacked in any way but “Moonfall” just has that “x-factor” for me and it shines among their other releases. As 2026 screeches to a close soon, don’t let this one slip by without giving it the proper attention it deserves.
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