Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Crescent Shield The Stars of Never Seen Company: Cruz Del Sur Music Release: 2009 Genre: Progressive Reviewer: Raising Iron

A stellar sophomore achievement

After receiving high praise for their debut, LA's Crescent Shield has returned with a stellar sophomore achievement called The Stars of Never Seen. Keeping the lineup intact lends to the improved cohesion and overall excellent writing found within.

Rooted in traditional metal trajectories, the band has injected an aura of progressive flairs into the mix this time around, expanding the seriousness with which the guys (and gal) seek to display. For comparative sakes, Jag Panzer jumps immediately to mind; classy, high-minded writing with powerful, reverberating baritones (in this case via vocalist Michael Grant), all gravitated in a singular mission of propelling true heavy metal's current revival further into the upper stratosphere. You'd be hard pressed to find a clunker here, though the density of the album necessitates a few spins to completely sink in. Highlights of the disc would be "Temple of the Empty", with its soaring melody lines contrasted with sparse, clean guitars interjected periodically; "My Anger", whose slightly thrashed and balls-out speed will have head-bangers bobbing relentlessly; and closer "Lifespan", which, revolving around a slight, upbeat, almost pop-metal riff, will leave a smile on your face upon the album's completion.

Finding themselves stationed aboard the highly laudable Cruz Del Sur label, Crescent Shield are poised to take to the stars never seen at warp speed 9. So jump aboard, don your headphones, sit back, and watch the universe whisk by while listening to this cosmic soundtrack.