CRYPT SERMON The Stygian Rose

Crypt Sermon is likely one of the many nice bands from the Northeast that individuals are taking discover of. With two full size LPs already beneath their belt, this sextet actually comes into their very own with their latest report, The Stygian Rose.

Crypt Sermon is guitarist Steve Jansson (Daeva, Unrest), vocalist Brooks Wilson (Unrest), drummer Enrique Sagarnaga (Daeva, The Silver), guitarist Frank Chin (Daeva), bassist Matt Knox (Horrendous, The Silver), and keyboardist Tanner Anderson (Obsequiae, Majesties). Collectively, they type a decent unit that gives a large breadth and depth of sound that is going to make you recall epic doom bands like Candlemass, and Solitude Aeturnus, in addition to contemporaries like Spirit Adrift and Khemmis.

The Stygian Rose opens with an excellent tune, “Glimmers within the Underworld.” Every part simply comes collectively right here. Huge riffs beneath sweepingly lustful leads. You’ll be able to’t assist however be taken in by this candy elixir of sound correct from the primary few notes. Brooks, who not handles bass duties within the band, has his vocal proper up there within the combine, unabashedly. It is a stellar opener and makes you need rather more.

Fortunately you get extra greatness, instantly within the following tune, “Thunder (Good Thoughts).” It options some pretty work on the keys for some enhanced nuance and texture. Layered vocals carry environment and mystique. The keyboards, by the way in which, come again once more within the beginnings of “Down within the Hole” and on “Scrying Orb.” They remind you only a little bit of the sounds a few of us grew up on within the late 80s. For a few of you youthful people, it’d remind you extra of Stranger Issues.

“Heavy is the Crown of Bone” is only a stellar minimize that has a lot sound packed into to, however not in an amazing method. The monitor tells a narrative. As vocalist Brooks Wilson shares, “This tune follows our unnamed protagonist summon an entity from ‘The Ars Goetia’ as he seeks sacred consummation with the Divine Female.”

I like the bass work by Matt Knox. I like the way in which the vocals sound in addition to the general phrasing. There’s an epic, majestic high quality right here and it is not simply this tune, however actually via all the report. A really correct first single right here that entices and makes you need to delve deeper into what Crypt Sermon has to supply.

“The Stygian Rose” is the ultimate minimize on the report. An 11+ minute opus that simply so completely carry every little thing collectively. I notably love the soloing on the finish of the monitor.

Crypt Sermon has truly been round for a superb variety of years and all of their releases have undoubtedly been strong. This explicit report, nonetheless, is their strongest work so far. It feels essentially the most full, most nuanced, and essentially the most balanced. There’s a depth within the sound that brings this band’s work to the subsequent degree.

Concerning the method the band took this time round, drummer Enrique Sagarnaga tells us, “That is essentially the most ready our band has been, particularly going into the studio. It is about respect for one another’s time. We have been extra affected person with each other concerning how we expressed musical concepts. We dedicated to practising on an everyday schedule—that was essential. And as we grow old, we hopefully have turn into higher musicians.” I would say, after a hefty variety of listens, Enrique is totally on level right here. That is their greatest report musically, sonically and when it comes to tune writing.

Fantastically produced, combined and mastered by Arthur Rizk and engineered by Aidan Elias in Philadelphia, PA, the report has the potential to get Crypt Sermon filling bigger venues with many extra followers. The Stygian Rose will not be solely this band’s strongest work, it is one of many high information of 2024 to this point. It is a no-brainer first day purchase should you nonetheless occur to be on the fence.