Lucifer Was - Crown Of Creation


Year of Release: 2010
Label: Record Heaven/Transubstans
Catalog Number: TRANS 050
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:28:00

Remarkably, Lucifer Was, a band that formed in Norway during the 70s, would not release any recorded material until the mid 90s. Remarkable even more, is how good the band is. Up to this current release, Lucifer Was has rapidly improved on the retro-hard prog sound of their first releases They utilize mellotron and flute to augment a straight out rock approach to recording, yet layer each release with gorgeous vocals and keyboards.

After their most progressive effort, 2007's The Divine Tree, the band has thrown caution to the wind and created their most daring and complex recording yet - a symphonic concept album complete with orchestra! Needless to say, this is a complete departure from the hard rock sound of previous recordings, and I, for one, long anticipated the sparse arrangements of some of their best work. However, Crown Of Creation straddles both ends of the rock opera - from the lush and melodic, to blazing rockers which gush with energy.

The songs are quite short and seamlessly blend together. After starting out heavy, the next two or three songs are very mellow and showcase the powerful interplay between Lucifer Was vocalists Jon Ruder and Deb Girnius. Ruder himself has the timbre of Scorpions Klaus Meine with a dash of Sonata Arctica's Tony Kakko, but here his vocals have the reach of a certified Soprano. "Rising Sun" climaxes the first movement like a fireball before the next movement begins again with lavish vocals and far reaching melodies. The interplay with orchestra and rock band, softness and blistering chaos continues throughout the CD's duration. It takes repeated listens to soak up the full scope of this piece of work. What makes it all so masterful is how the opera is written both for rock band and orchestra, without sounding like someone just cramming classical instruments into a rock piece.

Add to this the fine choral work, specifically on "Cabris Sans Cornes," and you have a dense, rich album that is filled to the brim with musical ideas. Too bad it's only 46 minutes long. It seems to end far too soon. Or maybe that's a good thing.

I really like this album. I like it for reasons much different to the appreciation I have for the other Lucifer Was albums.

If you want to hear and own 2010's best rock opera so far, look no further.


Tracklisting:
Wonder (2:26) / Three Hammers (0:43) / Unformed And Void (3:34) / By A White Lace (3:57) / Beggar's Bowl (2:08) / Rising Sun (4:42) / Try Me (3:30) / The Crown Of Creation (4:21) / Moments (3:30) / Bethanian Theme (4:14) / Burning Beautiful Flowers (1:16) / Cabris Sans Cornes (4:22) /When The Phoenix Flies (3:20) / Into The Blue (3:25) / Three Hammers Plus (1:00)

Musicians:
Thore Engen - guitars and vocals
Jon Ruder - vocals
Deb Girnius - flute, vocals
Einar Bruu - bass
Rune Engen - drums
Arne Martinussen - B3 organ, mellotron, keyboards
Andreas Sjo Engen - guitars
Freddy Lindquist - guitars, keyboards, programming/Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra

Discography:
Underground And Beyond (1997)
In Anadi''s Bower (2000)
Blues From Hellah (2004)
The Divine Tree (2007)
The Crown Of Creation (2010)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin NO

Added: July 12th 2010
Reviewer: Richard Zywotkiewicz
Score:
Artist website: www.luciferwas.com
Hits: 4051
Language: english

  

[ Back to Reviews Index | Post Comment ]