STYGIAN CROWN - Stygian Crown LP (Black Vinyl)

Sometimes, a band comes along with such a preposterous marketing ploy that metalheads feel compelled to check if it’s the real deal. In the case of newly-formed quintet Stygian Crown, the trick lies in the word “Candlethrower”. A portmanteau formed of the legendary names of Candlemass and Bolt Thrower, it can be used as a handy term for the Californians to throw about in order to drum up publicity. Rest assured, however, that “Candlethrower” merely represents a novel way of saying “epic doom with death metal influences” – hardly surprising when your crew contains ex-members of Morgion and Divine Eve, as well as centring round a trio of Gravehill men. Death metal fans may be reluctant to celebrate, however, since decidedly the closest comparisons to Stygian Crown are Solitude Aeturnus and Altar of Oblivion, while Melissa Pinion’s dramatic vocals tilt at Smoulder, Cauchemar, and Greeks Doomocracy.