ALBUM REVIEW: Echo – Ivy Crown
It almost seems criminal listening to metal as catchy as this. Danish all-female metalcore quartet IVY CROWN are bound to turn some heads and break some hearts with their fantastic debut album Echo. Nine songs of catchy metalcore brilliance, dripping with a punk attitude, Echo is one of the most refreshing albums you’ll hear all year. Feisty front woman Maria Kjær sings and screams are way through songs about breaking free from poisonous relationships and growing with every defeat. The subject matter always runs the risk of bands sounding amateurish, but IVY CROWN deliver the songs with such maturity and fire, you’ll feel every word.
Echo begins with Lonesome And Cold which is arguably the darkest song on the album, but one of the most striking. The opening riff is aptly cold, resonating a chilled air. A punky verse ensues with Kjær spitting out her venomous lyrics. The chorus is catchy yet haunting which results in a bizarre feeling. If the song doesn’t make impact just yet, then guest vocals by MØL‘s Kim Song Sternkopf will batter the point home. On Lonesome And Cold, Sternkopf sounds the most frightening we’ve ever heard him. Nothing is warm or nice on this track and it makes for a formidable opener.
Second track Run is the empowering counterpart to Lonesome And Cold, and emphasises the strength it takes to escape an unhealthy relationship. The instrumentation and melodies would appeal to SIAMESE fans (especially from the Shameless era) which might be partly because SIAMESE front man Mirza Randonjica-Bang had a hand in the production of the vocals. The result is another darkly catchy song which will stick in your head for days on end. Throw in terrifying growls by Kjær and you’ve got yourself another captivating tune.
After two stellar songs, third track It’s A Hell falls a little short. However, the guitar work is some of the most varied on the album and the chorus packs a punch. That’s What You Do boasts delicate guitar notes and delicate lyrics. But underneath there’s a storm brewing and it finally breaks when GHOST IRIS‘ Jesper Gün‘s distinct screams decimate the vulnerability. The second guest vocalist from IVY CROWN‘s homeland is further proof what amazing talent Denmark has. So far, Echo is proving IVY CROWN may soon join the Danish metal elite.
Next track Our Worst Days is one of the strongest songs on the album and is the most liberating. Sounding their most upbeat on this track with the most optimistic lyrics, this could easily become an anthem for IVY CROWN fans. Bad Dream is a different beast entirely however. Featuring blistering vocals courtesy of LOATHE‘s Kadeem France, it’s an angry yet heart-wrenching song. Natasja Stormly‘s riffs are ridiculously on point for Bad Dream and elevate IVY CROWN to an entirely new dimension. The heavy riffs, France‘s screams, Kjær‘s vocals and Sara Gacic‘s energetic drumming all create such an impact, it will be hard to shake this song from your head.
Not Who We Are starts with a riff and atmospherics which wouldn’t sound out of place on PVRIS‘ White Noise. This bassy delight has a different vibe to other songs on Echo but remains a dark example of IVY CROWN‘s magic. Things get really heavy for penultimate track Forgotten Me. Kjær‘s inner demon is unleashed whilst Stormly‘s monstrous breakdown obliterates the all-female stereotype. It’s almost a treat hearing this brutal gem later in the album. Proving they’re not one-trick ponies, IVY CROWN are finding the perfect balance between heavy and catchy.
Album finale Rising is one of the most stirring songs on Echo. A huge and powerful chorus with hopeful lyrics will always make for an effective closer. By the time you reach the end of Echo, there is a sense the album has travelled from the theme of heartbreak and betrayal, through the healing process, then finally finishing with realising your self-worth and finding hope. IVY CROWN have achieved something truly special by executing this subject matter with maturity and new venom while maintaining their unique stance on metalcore. An extremely promising debut by four talented women, don’t be surprised if IVY CROWN become queens of the scene.
Rating: 8/10
Echo is set for release October 25th via Long Branch Records.
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