The Crown--Hell is Here (1998/Metal Blade)
Rating--7.0

Death metal with a more traditional slant on the music, as strains of Maiden and Priest are mixed in with the more common sounds of Slayer. There's a little technical Iced Earth as well--but only in very brief splashes.
The vocals are death, but in the somewhat distinguisable mold of a Sepultura, perhaps. A little deeper, but not gurgling.
"At the End" has a great mid-rhythm section, and the slower and more methodical "Death By My Side" is a top highlight. Fast and heavy tracks "The Poison" and "Black Lightning" show plenty of energy, as the entire album has no problem with heaviness and chops.
A fresh face on the (somewhat) commercial death metal scene, while managing to hang on to the toughness of the early pioneers of the genre. Even captures the thematics of Venom et al, which should please many.
TRACK LIST: The Poison/At the End/1999 - Revolution 666/Dying of the Heart/Electric Night/Black Lightning/The Devil and the Darkness/Give You Hell/Body and Soul/Mysterion/Death By My Side

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