The Crown – Crown of Thorns Album Review

Crown of Thorns is a goddamn ripper. The Crown doesn’t just show up on this one, they dominate. From the first riff of I Hunt With The Devil, this thing comes out swinging and doesn’t back off for a second. It’s a vicious blend of death, black, thrash, and speed metal, stitched together with that signature Swedish melodic precision.

What makes it hit even harder is how tight everything sounds. No mud. No chaos for chaos’s sake. Every element has room to breathe and punch through. Marko Tervonen’s rhythm work is just relentless, straight-up chainsaw riffs, while Marcus Sunesson adds serious weight with leads that aren’t just flashy, they’re smart. The harmonies between them hit at just the right moments, giving a few tracks that extra bit of drama and drive without ever softening the blow.

Vocally, Johan Lindstrand’s got that rare growl that cuts clean. You can actually make out what he’s saying without losing any of the power or grit. That’s not easy. Bass from Mattias Rasmussen never fades into the background either; it’s thick, it’s heavy, and it matters. And the drumming? Mikael Norén plays like he’s got something to prove. It’s fast, punishing, and always locked in.

This isn’t just another album in their discography. Crown of Thorns feels like a full-on statement. It’s cohesive, it’s aggressive, and it’s rooted in everything that made death metal great while still pushing it forward. If you’re into early Sepultura, Death, or Obituary, this one’s going to hit all the right nerves.