HEAVY CROWN
LIVING LIES AGAIN
REVIEW BY JOE COMPTON & JD ESTRADA
This is a follow up for the French Alternative Rock trio to their 1st EP, "Stranger Things Can Happen".
Artist: Heavy Crown
Release date: February 14th, 2025
Genre: Alt Rockl
Length: 40 Minutes, 10 Tracks
JD's Overall thoughts: Some albums hook you from the getgo… and those are the albums a lot of people focus on. At first listen, Heavy Crown didn’t hook me. Then I was like, let me give it a go. Second listen, caught my attention when I got past a couple of things that I might have focused on the first time. First time around, I heard an accent I couldn’t pinpoint and was like…do I like this, do I not like it? And was just overthinking things. On my second listen, I was like, Oh wait, I get it. And we’ll go track by track so you see what my experience was like.
Joe's Overall thoughts: There is a kind of Jekyll and Hyde-ness to how I ultimately feel about this album and this band. On one hand, when they crank it up and give me flurries like that of a Helmet or Stoned Temple Pilots, and even in their more industrial-esque tracks, an almost old school Nine Inch Nails sound, I am all in. When they stray and try to blend this ferocity or abandon it altogether for a more Radiohead-esque sound, that's where I kind of go, ah, okay, not for me. The musicianship here is stellar, the production is equally so, there is care and energy here that I think comes from the right place, and I get their need to explore the genre and hit all points of it. It's not terrible music. It's just not something I would listen to. The tracks that I love here, and there are some, have a power to them that makes me ignore the elemental aspects and get lost in the music's essence.
Joe's Overall thoughts: There is a kind of Jekyll and Hyde-ness to how I ultimately feel about this album and this band. On one hand, when they crank it up and give me flurries like that of a Helmet or Stoned Temple Pilots, and even in their more industrial-esque tracks, an almost old school Nine Inch Nails sound, I am all in. When they stray and try to blend this ferocity or abandon it altogether for a more Radiohead-esque sound, that's where I kind of go, ah, okay, not for me. The musicianship here is stellar, the production is equally so, there is care and energy here that I think comes from the right place, and I get their need to explore the genre and hit all points of it. It's not terrible music. It's just not something I would listen to. The tracks that I love here, and there are some, have a power to them that makes me ignore the elemental aspects and get lost in the music's essence.
JOE's comments are in blue, JD's are in green.
1. GAME - Straightforward, crunchy guitars, spoken word chorus with band coming in after each line, and although it’s an approach I’ve heard before…it’d been a while. This throwback song has enough crunch to get you pumping fists, shaking hips, and finding and locking in with a great groove.
Here, right from the start, is a perfect example of what I discussed in my overall thoughts. This is the song that will stay in my rotation for a long while. Reminds me very much of Helmet. I am a fan of a lyrically paused riff, and this one does that in spades. The guitar fuzzy distortion here is a very apt touch to the atmosphere of this tune. This also has the best drumming on the album here. This is a super solid start.
2. THE MESSENGER - The torque and effects that occupy the guitar work here are great in the beginning. I am not a fan of the whispering verses, though, but I do think the build and what is really solid bridges out of the verse are strong musically. The song is a tad long, and when it stretches out the initial riff into what will be the rest of the song, I am not as intrigued, almost too much formula there. This song really feels like its in 2nd gear and never gets out of it.
The intro sounds like a guitar with a synth effect running over it, and you realize it when you hear guitar squeaks in a chord transition that adds a bit of grit to it, which makes me smile. It sets the stage, though it unfolds rather than explodes. A full
minute and twenty seconds of an intro, then an extra 24 seconds until you hit that chorus, and the drums finally come in. I think this song is a great example of why I have a tricky time connecting, and it honestly has to do with the mix. If it bugs you, letting go will be a bitch. But when you lie back and enjoy the song, that fades, and a solid song comes through. But the vocal levels, drums, etc., feel slightly off for me…until I stop overthinking and overanalyzing. The experience reminded me a bit of listening to some of the early albums by The Screaming Trees, though not to such a drastic level. Here, there’s just something slightly off if you pay close attention. If, however, you focus on the lyrics and the guitar hook, you find a song that actually sticks with you. Super peculiar experience for me. But this song reminds me of Project 86 a bit, and THAT band has everything mixed to my style. Here, the drums lack something, and I can hear it in the snare and the toms. Maybe it’s triggers, maybe they’re electric drums, but a song that could be epic gets held back because of that.
3. LEAVE IT TO ME - This track is a big ole nü-metal, leaning more to the metal throwback with callbacks in the chorus and even a semi-rap core breakdown. But it’s got some pep to it, and and whisper to the belting approach works particularly well here. Also, in the rap-ish verse, you can definitely feel the French accent come through, and I can lay down big money that live this song is an absolute banger.
Another solid opening. This band is really good at starting a song and getting you engaged. It's the maintaining riff that tends to fade for me, but this one leads into a much better rhythmic, continuous riff that I think is more natural, more aesthetically pleasing to my ears. I love the slamming anthemic chorus here, too. This is very Faith No More-esque and I am all for it. This is one that will be in the rotation for a while too.
Another solid opening. This band is really good at starting a song and getting you engaged. It's the maintaining riff that tends to fade for me, but this one leads into a much better rhythmic, continuous riff that I think is more natural, more aesthetically pleasing to my ears. I love the slamming anthemic chorus here, too. This is very Faith No More-esque and I am all for it. This is one that will be in the rotation for a while too.
4. (CAN'T LET YOU) DIE ON ME - I love the gothic background keys here and here, finally, for me, the whispering vocals work well. Good range on display by all 3 guys here. This one has an Oasis feel to it. A lot of what I was saying from top-notch production is very much on display here. This is very nicely produced. This would be a great radio play hit if there were such a thing anymore. Again, the song crescendos with what is becoming a cool signature for Heavy Crown, the falsetto, A cappella lyric that echoes into the atmosphere of the drifting guitar riff. While that's not a new thing, in fact, a very 90s Alt Rock thing to do, they do it with panache that they own it.
Worthy of a slot in THIS IS NOW MODERN POWER BALLADS lol. Snark aside, this is definitely a radio friendly track and one where the mix works better. Love the keyboard flares here and there and although it’s a ballad, it’s a pretty damn good one at that.
5. SOMETIMES - This track gives me industrial rock vibes and reminds me a bit of
Ultraspank/Lo-Pro with a good pre-chorus before the guitars crash in and hit you in the orbital bone. The track then keeps building up bit by bit, and this goes to show that rather than huge chops, if you have a heavy groove, you don’t need to shred to show you rock.
Finally, a drum intro that leads to some of the best lyrics on the album here. I like the juxtaposition of being dirty but realizing that this is not a way to love but a way to fulfill a lust or need. The lyrics lend to a nice chaotic self-argument that feels as if you were watching someone in a psychotic breakdown whip their head back and forth. This is very 80's alt-rock, but it works. I like the idea of staying within itself but still building a fierce punching rhythm that feels out of control. Maybe the most catchy anthem here.
A bit mellower, though highly melodic. More of the semi-rap breakdowns that
might make or break this album for you, but definitely something I can see in a
soundtrack, and I don’t say that disparagingly. I’ve bought many a soundtrack for
musical discovery, and for some reason, this song gives me those vibes.7. ANOTHER WAY - I loveeeee this song and the style that oozes off it. I think that from the entire album, this HAS to be my top track. From the noir arpeggio set up to a chorus that just bangs. Love the attitude on this track and I highly suspect this is the track got me to come back to give this album a second go. NO notes. Just groovy, moody, deliciousness.
The really cool thing about this band is you can hear their sound; they have a unique signature, but they don't rest on just leaning into an Alt-Rock persona. This is a great case in point. This has a very heady Tom Waits/Amigo The Devil-like feel to it. I love the moodyness of this tune. I love how the chorus rips into this Gothic distortion, then back to the noir. I love the grandiosity of this song, and that comes through with some strings in the end that drive us home, accompanied by a very cool twang riff that echoes the background. This is another song I am having feed the rotation, it is awesome sauce for sure. This is one of those that will become my favorite song with time.
8. NOT IN MY HEAD - Cool digital effect that brings us back to another great opening guitar riff, that withstanding, the vocals here seem off-kilter a tad from the streaming rhythm that is pulsing here. There is a bit of laziness in the lyrics too. Cool ending into a raging and ripping solo. The guitar work saves this song.
DEFINITELY one of the bangers on this album and I will admit I love this track and how they cope with a faster beat and just pressing the accelerator a bit more. This track and the last one take an album that’s been pretty good and give it a big ole shot in the arm even including a guitar solo for good measure.
9. AROUND THE CORNER - Third track in a row where I feel the band has kicked it up a notch and I will admit I like when an album is NOT top heavy. But there’s something about Another Way, Not in My Head, and then Around the Corner that I feel as if all the pieces come together, the drums feel right, the mix is tight, and I can definitely get on board with this album.
This might be the 3rd banger in a row, and I agree with my colleague that it feels like there is a stride happening here, but this one is much more cohesive than its previous compadre. That is, until the bridge into the chorus, then it loses its way a little. The beat is solid, though, and thus it's just a matter of jumping right into what works here. Again, this band knows how to open and close a song and leans, smartly I might add, on that. Like a boxer stealing a close round in a fight.
10. GET IT OUT - I like that we get a vocal opening here, not sure if I like the echo distortion with it, but it's not terrible. What is awesome is when the guitars and drums rip into the song. I love the approach to how they subtly just crescendo in. Yet another twist in the discography of Heavy Crown, where we get this Tool-like atmosphere and sound, especially vocally, very Maynard-like. There is a like timple ripple effect that takes place in the tempo change into a solo toward the end. Good way to go out here.
Mid-tempo album closer with a catchy closer, further confirming that this
album rocks most as you settle into it.
JD's FINAL THOUGHTS: It’s a curious album to listen to because you might find some things that take you out of the groove, though I think many MORE that keep you locked in or inviting you back in. Give it a check and tell me if I’m right, wrong, or something else. ;)
JOE's FINAL THOUGHTS: I think there are so many formulaic, way over-polished beboppers you can hang your hat on and be a frontrunner for, Heavy Crown is the polar opposite of that in my humble opinion. They are talented enough to win you over for a good chunk of this album somewhere, somehow, because they don't rest on their laurels; they challenge them. Not always to great effect or for this listener not always worth the juice of the squeeze, but when they get it right, it's fairly masterful and very cool and interesting.
YOU CAN GET LIVING LIES AGAIN HERE THROUGH BANDCAMP, FOLLOW HEAVY CROWN WHILE YOU THERE.
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