I've already read many mixed accounts regarding the long-awaited debut full-length from Kingdom of Sorrow (released by Relapse Records), the side project spearheaded by Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta and Crowbar's Kirk Windstein, and oddly enough one of the chief complaints seems to often be, "Well, it just sort of sounds like a cross between Hatebreed and Crowbar." Now, call me crazy, but what exactly is the problem with that equation!? Seriously, I bought this album as mp3's off of Amazon.com so I don't have the booklet, so I'm not sure how the writing credits are broken down or anything, but I mean, at the end of the day both of these guys have easily identifiable vocal styles, and Kirk's riffs are definitely uniquely identifiable as well, so... I mean, I guess what I'm getting at is... how could you not expect this to sound like a cross between Hatebreed and Crowbar!? I don't know, I'm not really into "Free the Fallen" for some reason, but the rest of the disc is totally fuckin' solid, and there are a few absolutely awesome tracks here. And it's not a one-sided record, either. The chugging, stripped down elements of the Hatebreed sound are generally kept to a minimum, and when employed are often glossed over with at least a hint of that sludgy Crowbar vibe, but the bulk of the material tends to be efficiently diversified in terms of tempo changes and stylistic variety. There are some darker clean passages and singing vocals, plenty of those totally epic, "Planets Collide"-esque melodic riffs (I can't get enough of that shit, to be honest with you), a few quick lead runs... I don't know, I mean, to me, if you're a fan of both Hatebreed and Crowbar, I just don't see what the hell there is to complain about, you know? I guess maybe the fact that the album was completed so long before it was released might have hurt them in long run with certain listeners, because it gave them too much time to continually build their hopes up or something, but... fuck it. I like it. I'm satisfied.
Kingdom of Sorrow "Hear This Prayer for Her"
Get It
Relapse Records (CD)
Relapse Records (LP)
The End Records
Amazon.com (mp3)
Comments
I like Crowbar / I hate Hatebreed. So all Hatebreed parts suck for me. Very big hype about album or not those HB parts just kill some track for me. And I’m open minded to various styles of music but I can’t like HB no mather what.
3.5.2008 | By Anonymous
I love all of the Crowbar albums. I’m not a fan of Down, and I’m definitely not a fan of Hatebreed.
I must say that I don’t like the Kingdom of Sorrow album. Jamie’s vocals are a big turn off, even though he’s not doing his standard HB style vocals, it sounds sorta like he’s impersonating Phil Anselmo a little.
Am I an asshole for wanting a Crowbar record instead??
3.5.2008 | By Steve
I’m doing my own review of this, but the Cliff Notes version is that I completely hated it. It was the worst elements of both bands. It was like throwaway riffs from “Supremacy” slowed down about 25% with Kirk’s way past prime voice making it even worse and ruining the ends of the measure with some half hearted sludge attempts. It was just a mid tempo bore fest of the highest order and seems so technically ill conceived it made me suspect they’d just dreamed the whole thing up drunk at some wing joint in St. Louis on some tour 3 years ago.
3.5.2008 | By Johnny
I like both bands, so I really got into this.
I got to see them last week and I really enjoyed them live. You could tell that they were having fun without having to live up to the name of their primary outfits.
3.5.2008 | By Eddie
Glad someone else finally likes this, too. I really don’t get all the hate on this one. It baffles me. I guess since I like Hatebreed I never paid attention or realized that there are people out there that really hate them that much, or that that would matter here. I dunno.
3.5.2008 | By Andrew Aversionline
I think this is a great album. Again, what’s the problem with Hatebreed + Crowbar? I was also very happy to see the inclusion of “Buried in Black” as the final track, the first song i heard from this band and still my favorite. Great way to end the record.
3.5.2008 | By Andrew C.
The problem with Hatebreed+Crowbar is that it takes the worst from both. There is no energy and too slow of a tempo. Just no balls or swagger, which is what the whole “Southern” thing thrives on.
I know it’s heresy, but I was never a HUGE Crowbar fan to begin with, but I’d sooner listen to “Broken Glass” 8 million times than this again.
3.5.2008 | By Johnny
Eh, I haven’t checked this out yet just because jamey from hatebreed is involved. i want to check it out but just don’t want to see a band with crowbar’s reputation to be marred by him. But hey, there’s enough southern style metal going around to listen to instead.
3.5.2008 | By Anonymous
i was negatively biased from the start without even hearing one note of it. for some reason, it saddens me to see (rich?) kids teaming up with legends of such stature (pun intended) as kirk’s. as if they’re already on a par with them. fuck that. feels like he’s willingly letting himself be exploited ‘cause it might quench his old-age-induced thirst for “fame” or something.
but this ain’t half bad, though. a little soul/ball-less, and not massive enough, but i’d take it over the last down album any day.
3.6.2008 | By chris
Chris, that’s a reasoned position, and probably the one I’m closest to holding. Not looking to open a whole can of worms, but I’m pretty sure Jamy’s not *rich* at least in any relative sense.
And here’s some breaking news, that Down album really didn’t last for me. I loved it so intensely and then it just kind of faded out. So I hear you there too.
3.6.2008 | By Johnny
Based on that song you linked, not into this. Musically I like it, vocally it doesn’t do anything for me.
3.6.2008 | By Pim
I liked some of the album and not other parts. Overall it’s solid in my opinion. I understand some of the bias towards hating this, hatebreed is very easy to dislike, and this definitely has some hatebreed-esque moments. But really the sum of the parts isn’t that bad.
3.7.2008 | By Carlzilla
I didn’t have any hopes for this one, but I love Hatebreed, and I’m a big Crowbar-fan as well.. Like people have been saying here, there is something missing.. The edge that both bands really got.. It’s like Jamey and Kirk try to be the bigger star here, so they try their best outshine each other..Maybe it’s just to much of something that wasn’t THAT good in the first place? I don’t know, it just doesn’t work.. Maybe it’s because Jamey didn’t have that whole “fuck you, I know to well I can just do one thing, but it’s my thing, damnit!!”-aspect over him this time..
3.8.2008 | By Chris
One word “Crowbreed”
3.8.2008 | By Ron Deuce