Crown Lands
Fearless
Spinefarm Records
Few Canadian bands, if any, have had a trajectory that Crown Lands have well deservingly enjoyed over the last decade. Following the release of the debut full-length album in 2020, the band pressed forward with a series of releases, each seemingly more experimental and progressive than the last: the single, βContext: Fearless Pt. Iβ and the White Buffalo EP β along with 2021βs live album, Odyssey Vol. 1 and a pair of covers, βFeeling Goodβ and βCome Togetherβ. The Oshawa, ON duoβs latest album, Fearless doubles down into the bandβs progressive roots as it ushers in a new chapter to their creativity.
Opening with the lead, 18-min single, βStarlifter: Fearless Pt. IIβ, Crown Lands pay homage to Rush with a larger-than-life space epic that shifts unexpectedly, while seemingly growing organically. The use of acoustic passages and electronic textures proves an effective tool of creating contrast among the β70s inspired tones and prog stylings. Furthermore, the echoing of sentiments first heard in βContext: Fearless Pt. Iβ demonstrates a growing arch among the bandβs lyrical lore. The band sounds inspired as motifs come and go and are intertwined with progressions that push and pull what has become familiar until it no longer resembles its original hook. While seemingly excessive in nature, more seems to be revealed sonically with every listen, making Crown Landsβ return all the more impressive; ultimately, not a moment seems to be wasted, the entirety of the track feels necessary with nothing left feeling arbitrary, making for a truly musical experience. Front to back, βStarlifter: Fearless Pt. IIβ, is a masterclass in progressive songwriting and performance, with the single justifying why Crown Lands is a cut above most other up and coming rock outfits.
Without going to the lengths of the opening song, the remaining material on Fearless proves to be nearly as ambitious. Naturally, the previously released βRight Way Backβ and βContextβ are both highlights among the album, along with new tracks, βThe Shadowβ and βRevisionβ. Fearless comes to a powerful close with two songs: the highly anticipated βLady Of The Lakeβ and βCitadelβ. The former is a stunning midtempo track that feels like it was pulled straight from the Page and Plant song book with guitarist Kevin Comeau making use of an array of vintage tones and seamlessly blending acoustic guitars with crunching distortion and Cody Bowles melodic and powerful vocals howling over the drums with a sense of yearning. Living up to all the hype from their live performances and memes (check their socials for a laugh), βLady Of The Lakeβ is perhaps one of the greatest songs to come from Crown Lands. βCitadelβ somehow manages to build off of this, bringing Fearless to an ever climatic close with a song develops from a solo, melancholic piano into a dark and unrelentingly momentous ballad that ebbs and flows effortlessly from what appeared at first to be a simple song into massive, symphony of sounds impressively coming from just a pair of artists.
Over the course of nine songs, Crown Lands have demonstrated their worth as a leading presence in the growing wave of classic rock. Fearless is a powerful record that makes for a fantastic full-album experience. Without a weak moment across the album, Fearless is a jaw dropping album of immense musicality and refined songwriting. Worth all the praise and then some, Fearless is, by far, the greatest collection of music to come from Crown Lands as of yet, leaving no doubt of the duoβs ability to deliver distinctly β70s inspired music that genuinely feels fresh in todayβs modern musical landscape in a way that only Comeau and Bowles could.
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CROWN LANDS – FEARLESS
Gerrod Harris