Review Summary: *pondering the orb intensifies*
There has been a sense of escalation with each of Crypt Sermon’s three albums thus far. While The Stygian Rose largely strips away the interludes and extravagance seen on 2019’s The Ruins of Fading Light, its direct approach is decidedly more aggressive than they’ve ever been before. Much of this is readily explained by the lineup shuffles and perhaps influence from some members’ more extreme extracurriculars, but one could argue the more uptempo switch parallels made by Candlemass circa 1988’s Ancient Dreams.
The opening “Glimmer In The Underworld” certainly makes a strong case for this heaviness in action, especially for how much it sounds like their demented version of “Mirror, Mirror.” The song’s gradual marching riff gives way to an almost power metal-esque shuffle while the guitar tones carry an extra hint of menace and the vocals rely more on a shrill bark with occasional growls than the traditional bellow. “Down In The Hollow” applies those faster hints toward a full-on heavy metal number with their signature dark flavor while lead single “Heavy Is The Crown of Bone” hammers in an especially powerful doom strut.
Of course, the band’s penchant for crawling epic doom still gets plenty of spots to shine. “Thunder (Perfect Mind)” does well in temporarily steering the course to a place of classic balanced pacing, but the most arcane excursions occur toward the album’s end. True to its ponderous title, “Scrying Orb” carries the most potently foreboding atmosphere with horror-ready keyboards setting the stage for swirling guitars, storytelling vocals, and an especially grandiose chorus. It isn’t too surprising to see the closing title track push that splendor to even deeper depths at eleven minutes long, but its keyboards and crashing riffs are especially colossal while the lyrics do well to tie the recurring motifs together.
While The Ruins of Fading Light might still stand as my personal favorite Crypt Sermon album, there’s no denying the nasty power that comes from The Stygian Rose. Reports of the band shying away from their epic doom roots might be a bit exaggerated, but the harsher elements and more prominent speeds give the music an even more distinct character. Much more their peers in Khemmis, Crypt Sermon just keeps seeing up win after win.
Your move, Atlantean Kodex.
