Sweden’s The Crown have been around since 1990 and has released two demos and five albums. The band’s lineup has remained stable until early 2001 when singer Johan Lindstrand decided to call it quits. He was replaced by Tomas Lindberg (ex At the Gates) giving us the lineup we have today. The Crown has been touring like madmen and are about to embark on a North American tour supporting their latest album.

The album starts out with a keyboard intro entitled “House of Hades” which could easily lead one to believe they were listening to a black metal CD. From there it abruptly leaps into the title track “Crowned in Terror”, a savage Swedish death opus. Nope, this is definitely not a black metal album! “Crowned in Terror” marks the debut of Tomas Lindberg on vocals and the veteran front man does not disappoint with his trademark pained screams and yells. Musicianship is solid as ever, remaining highly melodic but at the same time keeping the brutal edge that so many of The Crown’s fellow countrymen have all but abandoned. This is ten tracks of unforgiving melodic death metal that is sure to please.

If you like any of The Crown’s previous albums do yourself a favor and get this one. If recent Swedish death albums have you looking for something with a little more bit to it you can stop the search now. Two horns up for this release!

01 House Of Hades (intro)
02 Crowned In Terror
03 Under the Whip
04 Drugged Unholy
05 World Below
06 The Speed of Darkness
07 Out for Blood
08 I Am Hell
09 Death Is The Hunter
10 Satanist
11 Death Metal Holocaust
(Metal Blade) Rating: 9 /10