Crashtime from Switzerland is an old school heavy/power metal band that has been together since 2007. In 2017 they released a demo EP, entitled “Today’s World”.
2021 saw the band release their first full-length album “Valley of the Kings”, which boasts 11 tracks of traditional heavy metal.
The album begins with the title track ”Valley of the Kings” with a foreboding intro followed by a blood-curdling scream which throws you straight into a solid heavy metal riff. The chorus of this track is catchy, the song offers some vocal screams and power metal style vocals, and overall the track is full of vitality.
“Mirror Maze” has another very distinct old school riff, and convincing vocal performance, and some interesting tempo changes within the track.
“CT Metal” begins with an engaging intro and a chorus that celebrates the band’s love of the metal they play. This is definitely a crowd participation song, and will no doubt unite a metal crowd in a live setting.
Each song has its own merits, and the only feedback that could be given is that at times the vocals follow the music a little too closely, which can diminish the captivation in some parts. Perhaps some variation in the phrasing could add the missing ingredient.
However, this is only a minor observation of the album, all in all, the music is high spirited and animated, and the solos are classy and understated, they match the music beautifully. The lyrics are clear to the listener, and Alain Kläy is, without a doubt, accomplished. This is evident in the impressive opening note of “No Pain, No Gain”.
Standout tracks are “CT Metal” and “Princess of Siberia” which features Seraina Telli, formerly of Burning Witches. “Princess of Siberia” is a song that invokes a lot of feeling, and both vocalists work very well together. The song also has a ferocious solo to match.
An album for fans of heavy and power metal.
Crashtime: Facebook
Release Year: 2021
Label: self-released
Category: Album
Country: Switzerland
Reviewed by ForsakenMisery
