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Crescent Shield
The Stars of Never Seen

Company: Cruz Del Sur Music
Release: 2009
Genre: Progressive
Reviewer: Raising Iron

  • A stellar sophomore achievement



    • After receiving high praise for their debut, LA's Crescent Shield has returned with a stellar sophomore achievement called The Stars of Never Seen. Keeping the lineup intact lends to the improved cohesion and overall excellent writing found within.

    Rooted in traditional metal trajectories, the band has injected an aura of progressive flairs into the mix this time around, expanding the seriousness with which the guys (and gal) seek to display. For comparative sakes, Jag Panzer jumps immediately to mind; classy, high-minded writing with powerful, reverberating baritones (in this case via vocalist Michael Grant), all gravitated in a singular mission of propelling true heavy metal's current revival further into the upper stratosphere. You'd be hard pressed to find a clunker here, though the density of the album necessitates a few spins to completely sink in. Highlights of the disc would be "Temple of the Empty", with its soaring melody lines contrasted with sparse, clean guitars interjected periodically; "My Anger", whose slightly thrashed and balls-out speed will have head-bangers bobbing relentlessly; and closer "Lifespan", which, revolving around a slight, upbeat, almost pop-metal riff, will leave a smile on your face upon the album's completion.

    Finding themselves stationed aboard the highly laudable Cruz Del Sur label, Crescent Shield are poised to take to the stars never seen at warp speed 9. So jump aboard, don your headphones, sit back, and watch the universe whisk by while listening to this cosmic soundtrack.



    Maximum Metal Rating Legend - Full Details
    5 Excellent - Buy it and say a prayer to the metal gods that you were tuned on to this masterpiece. A classic.
    4-4.5 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a clunker or a lacking somewhere to keep it from perfection. You won't feel bad about dropping some bones on these.
    3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler. This is the OK range where you'd search for the record on sale or used.
    3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio. Could show skills but be dull overall. Redeeming qualities for indy bands are effort and passion. Majors that don't try or suck outright end up here.
    2-2.5 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors. There is much better metal out there.
    1-1.5 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
    0 Terrible or an otherwise waste of your life and time.

    Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

    The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.

    Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.


    All reviews for this band:
    CD
    		 TITLE BAND
    DOR
    		 REVIEWER DATE
    		The Last of My KindCrescent Shield
    2007
    		Etiam9/14/2007
    		The Stars of Never SeenCrescent Shield
    2009
    		Raising Iron6/16/2009


    Interviews found from this band:
    INTERVIEW BAND INTERVIEWER DATE


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