THE CROWN - Crowned Unholy
September 13, 2004, 20 years ago
(Metal Blade)
The Crown's lone Tomas Lindberg album gets the re-recorded treatment here, with original vocalist Johan Lindstrand adding his unique vocal stylings and the entire proceedings graced with a brand spankin' new mix. While at first this exercise sounds like a really lame cash grab, it's quickly evident that Crowned Unholy is less clinically sterile than its forefather, and more authentic and organic: therefore, immediacy not found on the Lindberg record is instantly handed over, while a sense of (good) retroactive authenticity haunts the newly re-packaged product. I'm not really one for refurbishment (remastered = hoax), but in Crowned Unholy's case, the spitshine was not only worth it but, in retrospect, kinda needed. Comes with bonus DVD, for those interested.
