Album Review: This Ending - Crowned In Blood

CROWNED IN BLOOD BY THIS ENDING WILL BE RELEASED ON APRIL 26TH VIA APOSTASY RECORDS

Swedish Melodic Death Metal demons This Ending consists of members from bands such as A Canorous Quintet, October Tide, Darkened & Mörk Gryning. Three years have passed, since the band released their album Needles Of Rust however they have zero plans in slowing down, returning with their 5th studio album Crowned In Blood; a strong album that combines all ferocity and beauty of Swedish Melodic Death Metal.

The record opens with the title track, a somewhat ominous guitar intro which gradually builds with thunderous war-like drums before bursting in to life with frantic shredding, blistering blast-beats and a demonic, evil scream. The track continues to charge forward at a frantic gallop with rasping growls and elements of blackened death metal riffs. At the track's halfway point, the pace slows with rolling thunder in the background, acoustic guitars and a sinister, haunting spoken word interim until it rips the atmosphere apart with a furious guitar solo. 'Birth Of Evil' doesn't waste any time and pummels you in to submission with black metal riffage and thunderous, rolling drums. Despite its sheer brutality, the chorus is swelling and addictive. 'Devils' continues in the same vein with the addition of haunting spoken word elements and fist-pumping vibes. The guitar solos in particular here are soaring and intricate, guaranteed to melt your face off. 'Will Of Iron' maintains the ferocious gallop, charging full-steam ahead until the anthemic, chant-worthy chorus reminiscent of Amon Amarth comes in to play.

'Blood King' is a somber  2 minute long instrumental consisting of a melancholic piano rendition and acoustic guitars on the backdrop of a heavy rainfall and ethereal, monastic vocalisations, gradually building with booming yet subtle drums before fading away in a wintery breeze. This brief interlude acts as a palette cleanser until 'A Venomous Prison' bursts in to life and grabs you by the jugular. The vocals are determined and rasping and the cacophony of rage interspersed with flying solos and addictive riffage rips you apart. 'Hope In Inferno' serves as a juxtaposition to the aforementioned brutality, opening with a distorted sound and more haunting acoustics, an echoing guitar solo and ethereal vocals whispering from the void. An incredibly atmospheric moment which continues throughout the track, acting as a foundation to propel the furious shredding and tumultuous blast beats forward. The guitar solo ascends to dizzying heights before plummeting back in to those continuous acoustics and quiet whispers, fading out in to silence. A defining moment of raging beauty and opulence.

'Lord, Master, King and Emperor - All In One' commands your attention with unrestrained power and aggressive mid-tempo stomps. The rhythmical, deafening drums and heavy, chugging basslines are prevalent here accompanied by screaming riffs and an ominous atmosphere, frequently swaying between blistering blast-beats and furious rhythm. 'Awakening' is the newest track to be released from the record which you can check out below. Roaring attitude rife with climbing riffs, elevated solos and vigorously domineering blast-beats. Finally, 'Light The Flame' lulls you in with a false sense of a reprieve but suddenly bursts forth with one final push of energetic, muscular guitarwork and rampaging drums, twisting and turning in every direction. It incorporates all elements of the record to provide a conclusion to a true death metal opus.

This Ending are a band that need a lot more recognition than they already have. Incorporating black and extreme metal elements in to their melodic death metal sound, it strikes a sophisticated balance between sheer brutality and harmonious beauty. A dynamic offering which will leave both established and new fans alike craving more.

Rating: 8.5/10
Release Date: April 26th 2024
Released By: Apostasy Records
FFO: At The Gates, Amon Amarth, Nightrage, Necrophobic

Track List

01 - Crowned In Blood
02 - Birth Of Evil
03 - Devils
04 - Will Of Iron
05 - Blood King
06 - A Venomous Prison
07 - Hope In Inferno
08 - Lord, Master, King And Emperor - All In One
09 - Awakening
10 - Light The Flame (bonus track)