Crown: Cosmic Entity | The Cosmos Was Always Close By
(2024 – 2M Producciones)
The cosmos now has something to contend with. Crown is here. Hailing from Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina, they offer a work that aims to go beyond. “Cosmic Entity” is not an album that easily goes unnoticed, and in a few words we will try to discover what is behind one of the most interesting proposals we have heard lately.
Crown is curious. It does not seem easy to define them musically, but at the same time it is easy to guess which paths they take. That dichotomy is made difficult by the versatility that “Cosmic Entity” proposes. It’s an album with a groovy sound, lots of old and beloved grunge, but with ingredients as dissimilar as 90s-style hard rock. The mission was difficult, of course, but the adventure feels like a challenge accomplished, and then some. “Cosmic Entity” is concise, serious material that aims for great things.
With lyrics and vocals entirely in English, Crown aims to break down territorial boundaries, but it’s not just about language. There are plenty of reasons why “Cosmic Entity” is not just another album. The band aims to go far, and from what we can hear, they are turning the right path into a high-speed highway.
The total length of the album, which is less than 40 minutes, makes it resemble an EP, but Crown manages to fit 10 songs into that short running time. It’s a testament to how direct and succinct each of the songs on “Cosmic Entity” are. Let’s see, the opening track, “Entombed,” already shows us a complex riff of heavy guitars and a groovy base, but with “Nothing,” things lean more toward Skid Row-style hard rock.
We’re talking about versatility, and yes, Crown has no shortage of it. “Dying” proves it, but the important thing is that the whole album has unity in its sound, balancing the final mix. The title track is a succession of riffs and semi-locked bases, with a melodic intention of good tone, turning it into practically an introspective and really interesting ballad. The intro to “Slasher” with its hypnotic riff takes us through the “heavier” side of Crown.
“For You” stands out as one of the best things “Cosmic Entity” has to offer. It’s a dense, mid-tempo song that is undoubtedly sublime. That doesn’t mean that “Half Elder Witch” is left behind. With “Through The Pain,” the vibe shifts to a much more groovy feel than usual.
With “Empty Skies,” Crown throws its most rocking and fast-paced version onto the field, also containing one of the best solos on the album. Meanwhile, “The Singularity” closes the album with another gem from this more than interesting album.
Crown’s ideas are clear, and so their path seems much clearer, despite the complexity of their proposal. The point is that they manage to condense everything into an album of a precision rarely seen. Thus, “Cosmic Entity” is a success, not only in terms of its production and general idea, but also in terms of the compositions that make it up, which balance very well between versatility and unity. Each song is a world apart, but at the same time it is part of a whole. Complex, isn’t it? Well, that is one of Crown’s greatest virtues in our opinion.
The lyrics also have their own personality, ranging from personal issues to a certain conceptual air, one might say. Meanwhile, the sound of “Cosmic Entity” is the result of the production by guitarist and vocalist Claudio Lorenzon together with Rafael Finondo Raggio, in a recording made in Crown’s hometown of Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Cristian D’Alessandro was in charge of the mixing. It is clear that, beyond being an independent production, a lot of work and effort went into it, and we truly believe that it was all worth it. The album is on par with any production with a larger budget, which further enhances the appeal of “Cosmic Entity.”
In terms of the artwork, the album cover is rather modest but conveys some of the concept that the band is proposing. The inner sleeve contains the lyrics of the songs included, illustrations in keeping with the theme of each track, and a single photograph: that of Claudio Lorenzon and Esteban Toci, who were ultimately the ones who recorded most of this great album.
Crown has a lot to offer. “Cosmic Entity” is a great bet and a good excuse to go for more. By the way, this album in physical format can be obtained through https://www.2mproducciones.com.ar or by contacting the band on their social networks, where you can also find out all their latest news. As if that weren’t enough, here are two video clips of the songs “Cosmic Entity” and “Dying,” from this album…
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