#VAGABONDZREVIEW: CROWEN - EXOSUS
- Nov 11, 2021
- 4 min read
The best band are always found by chance. Now I can prove this point again.
When covid-19 broke into all industries including music world, the bands and promoters were forced to stop doing their business connected to live concerts. But what about live virtual festivals?
This summer Nummirock promoters decided to take advantage of modern technologies to make a two-days festival - just like in real life but on TV screen. Sounds weird for any festival-goer but better than nothing. Many metalheads stuck to the screens to see their favorite bands performing live and some of them even created own home festival to make very special festival mood bringing beer and grilling makkarat.
That was real festival, even talking about background music we heard between the bands performing. I'm sure you're familiar to this kinda music having hangout spirit perfectly supporting your great mood and being extremely heavy with powerful guitars and blast beats. And usually having growling vocals. It catches the ear from the very beginning and stays inside for a long time remembering those great times. So was the music I'm going to tell you about.
That was the background music for Nummirock festival playing for really long time but with every listening catching more and more. Now this enchanting music is available for everyone to enjoy.
Crowen is the solo project of Esa Uusimaa from Rain Of Acid. The band released the single In Arms last year. The new EP containing Exosus single will be released on December 10 via Inverse Records.
Must say that Esa has also perfectly completed all mixing and mastering duties for the record. It worth huge respect only, because the work is done is really talanted way speaking both of writing music and post-editing.
Now let's change for the single.
The song starts in quite classic heavy metal way. Loud guitar strum complemented with high-hat represents a great power rush and burst of energy that starts fulfilling you right from the start. Soon this guitar rush is being caught by lead guitar coloring the heaviness with bright and mighty melody. All the combination is preparing us for somehting even greater... Now the tempo doubles! Speedy blast beats and both guitars are just nailing balancing the whole tune and there also was added one interesting element. I expected the sound to be thicker and wider at this point but rides made the opposite - they made the drum sound field narrower. Must say that was interesting idea to join the song parts like that because it makes lead guitar melody more definite and distinguishes it poiting out the higher range. I find this element just exhilarating!
That skilful feature is soon followed by the main intro - undoubtedly one of the most remarkable and powerful parts of the song. Classic melodeath but made with so great passion, so feeling this power every microsecond and don't want it to stop playing. The guitar sound returns to heavy and sharp when the first verse starts. Growling vocals is the needed element to fully balance the entire sound and make this song so loud and powerful. The power and mightness is something that mounted in every inch of the song and can do nothing but listen in all ears catching those vibes and headbang. Oh yeah, I haven't heard so perfectly composed music for a while and it's just a pleasure to be listening to this one.
Verse is soon changed by bridge. Background synth adds up to the song atmosphere very well. It's so nicely combined to the speedy and thrashy drums and heavy guitars. The energy of the bridge is just exilarating. I can compare those vibes to the moment when a gig is about to begin and you're wating for your favorite band to enter the stage. I always feel thrilled to bits that moment and having irresistable vibrations inside. As for me this bridge represents totally same feeling and the way it's joined to the second verse represents genuine adrenaline rush. The second one is more airy and defined because the drums patters is a bit changed here - we hear kick and share dominating while the first is more speedy and thrashy. The crazy energy lives there and it just totally absorbes you.
This one has a hit chorus for sure. All instruments are greatly balanced with the vocals. Growling vocals with lead guitar. moshpit music What do you need to make a hit chorus for this one? Right, combine every detail of this mind-blowing song to put it to chorus and express even more power. That's what is done is Exosus. And yeah, lead solo with heavy riff and growling vocals are just the right elements to take this song to the top.
After-chorus part is so close to thrash metal but mild lead guitar gives the true Finnish shade to that one... Namely mild, calm and slow guitar melody accompanied with the speedy and thrashy drums is the main distinguishing feature of Finnish metal as a separate genre. You can easilly feel such song to be written in Finland and catch those beautiful vibes.
After short bridge where lead guitar gently dominates over blast beats we hear the break moment of the song - both guitars play sharp and it's skilfully defined by loud drums. I imagine listening to this part live, because it was made to be played live with all wildness and power it strikes. The last chorus is just killing it and the song ends with deep and slow lead part.
Well, it was a true blast. On one hand there're more things to say of Exosus, but on other - I'm totally speechless. This song has to be a true hit to become. First of all, it perfectly suits festival atmosphere and sounds just like a perfect aftermovie song to demonstate full range of emotions a metalhead feels - both festival goer and performing artist. Moreover, it's amazing moshpit song because it keeps huge amounts of energy.
Now, I'm longing to listen to the full record in December to add up to my thoughts and impression of Esa Uusimaa's magical music. Now I can only add that Exosus is possibly one of the best things I've heard this year so far.
CROWEN in social media:
STREAM EXOSUS:
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