Artist: Crown Of Thorns
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2008
Length: 47.49
Rating: 4/5
Faith is finally the new album we’ve waited (way too) long for from American hard rockers Crown Of Thorns, who some will remember mostly for the huge media exposure that came with the success of their debut in the mid-nineties, as well as the big tours with Van Halen and Bon Jovi from that period. No beating around the bush: this album continues the direction set by 2002’s “Karma,” which means Crown Of Thorns are once again nurturing a classic approach to melodic rock — in other words, a return to the roots.
Of course, a new “boom” like the one they pulled off with the debut back in 1994 is a pure utopia. Times have changed, and we can be glad that the guys are putting out consistent albums again, with songs whose quality doesn’t wobble and that we therefore can’t write off as “filler” stuck between the album’s highlights, with which the band could (maybe) slyly pad out the running time.
“Faith” has it all. Big melodies, the band’s innate knack for melodic compactness and expressive polish on full display, with peaks in the choruses. On top of the songs, the phenomenal vocals of singer Jean Beauvoir reign once again, with a brilliant curtain of riffs underneath, marked by great control and production restraint, which equally builds the overall sound picture out of the individual elements of Crown Of Thorns’ character. Made with experience and a lot of confidence. Beauvoir knows exactly what he’s doing in the studio.
The album opens with a seductive, highly melodic polish through the title track. It’s the speedy moment of the record, the kind you’ll probably miss later, since most of the songs sit at a calm to mid-tempo pace. All In My Head follows and confirms that moment with a big AOR hook.
That said, the band’s great expressive power shines especially in the phenomenal ballad Living In A Shadows. It’s the longest song on the album, full of motif twists loaded with drama, and those motifs are woven together so that the song keeps great compactness and a red thread throughout. With the power of his own sentiment, Beauvoir convincingly comes close to the sheer grandeur of singers like Glenn Hughes or Stevie Wonder. It’s one of the album’s peaks, and in terms of quality it towers over the other tracks. The dreamy The One also mellows the album out afterwards and highlights the sensual side of the AOR touch, though not as piercingly as Living In A Shadows.
“Oomph” returns with Rock Ready, though I should mention that the riffing here is a bit livelier and keeps a studio liveliness, a touch of raspy smear, yet is still carefully controlled in the production. Interestingly, the tempo stays mid-paced and only the album’s noise level goes up in this song, and mission accomplished, because the atmosphere effectively jumps to another level dynamically. Believe Me is yet another ballad that gives the feeling that this time Crown Of Thorns are really suffering deep in their souls. Beauvoir’s vocals once again score a total win with their sensuality and sophistication, with the great articulation of his vocal range, while the drama is built in the background mostly by rich orchestral arrangements.
Nobody brings a bit more adrenaline back to the album with prominent guitar riffs in the pre-chorus, and after that Stay With Me is especially convincing — it could easily have replaced the opening (title) track and boasts one of the most effective AOR chorus melodies on “Faith.” All I Wanna Do keeps up the triumphant streak of the big AOR touch with a flawless chorus melody. A song like Home Again could easily have tipped the overall feeling of listening to “Faith” if there had been more tracks like it on the album. Prominent, speedy riffing and a big AOR hook in the chorus. All Or Nothing is another moment where Beauvoir takes big strides through sensually articulated improvisation, and once again the song (suddenly) explodes atmospherically, leaping into a polished AOR chorus. A brilliant display of cunningly measured moves in composing a big melody.
I’d like to stress that, thanks to the pile of mid-tempo to calm songs, the overall feeling is that this is a more laid-back AOR album this time around, with a strong sense of personal expression, and not one you’ll be throwing yourself around to at every opportunity. It’s also not recommended for anyone who’s just split up with a partner (in a run-of-the-mill romantic relationship, of course), because it might drive you to slit your wrists. Just kidding. The album has a refined touch, which we demand from Jean Beauvoir’s experience and know-how, and in that sensuality and refinement it builds on its predecessor “Karma.” So, an album that’s a consistent example of high-quality AOR rock, typical of Crown Of Thorns’ mission, and the long gestation period has only helped it reach this level of polish. More albums like this please, guys.
Lineup
Jean Beauvoir – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Tommy Laffery – guitar
Michael Paige – bass guitar
Hawk Lopez – drums
Production
Jean Beauvoir
Tracklist
1. Faith
2. All In My Head
3. Living In The Shadows
4. The One
5. Rock Ready
6. Believe Me
7. Nobody
8. Stay With Me
9. All I Wanna Do
10. Home Again
11. All Or Nothing
