Lords OF Metal Ezine

Daniël : With ‘Fragments’, vocalist and guitarist Paolo Navarretta of The Black Crown shows that next to being an excellent musician, he is also a very capable producer. No hidden away details and inaudible bass. Many times have I complained about the capacity of Mediterranean (and specifically Italian) vocalists to make themselves clear in the English language. Paolo manages, in spite of – or maybe even because of – his accent, quite well. The American Maynard James Keenan, who time and again portrays his similarly obscure, strangled voice, perfect for the inner strife he delivers throughout the Tool discography.

In general, The Black Crown has found out how to create an exciting musical tension much like Tool. What seems to be missing however is the space for individual talent to show and grow throughout the record. Powerhouse Tool has a Danny Carey, an Adam Jones, both famous for their unique technical abilities, a Maynard James Keenan, who again and again proves to be a mastermind both as a singer and as a writer, and a Justin Chancellor, who keeps being able to carry all these macabre symphonies with his appraised skills on the bass guitar. A character like this one is still under construction in The Black Crown. But they are undoubtedly on the right way there.

Another great source of inspiration is the also very unique Karnivool. Within their discography also, there is much space for progressive and differentiating elements. Exactly this differentiation within songs is what The Black Crown needs. The refrains are impressive and attractive, yet an addition guitarist, or some more room for improvisation would do the group a lot of good. I am interested in what lies in the future for TBC!

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