Swedish band THE CRYSTAL CARAVAN was formed back in 2002, and following some initial demo recording they appeared with their self-titled debut album in 2009. The following year they signed to Swedish label Transubstans Records for their second album “Against the Rising Tide”. Come 2013 and this seven member strong ensemble have been reduced to a mere six who have crafted their third full length production “With Them You Walk Alone”.
This most recent of Crystal Caravan’s albums literally kicks off with a delightful, intense 70’s tinged hard rock item in the shape of Hour of the Wolf. A scorching piece that develops quite the metal-tinged expression before it concludes. A strong album opener and a surefire live favorite in the making there. It’s also a composition that I couldn’t readily trace as far as associations go, undeniably 70’s sounding but not of the kind I managed to attach to a specific band.
The following track With Them You Walk Alone has a certain Black Sabbath inspired mood to it, albeit a mellow one at that, and when the album reach the halfway point with Against The Rising Tide it is with seven minutes of music that most likely couldn’t have been made without a band like The Doors. As with the previous creation not a song that has a strong and direct artist association, but with a certain feeling and a few key details that those familiar with the bands mentioned will recognize. In a good way too I might add, these are compositions that are easy to enjoy.
Roses And Morphine is bookended by a nice, toned down dark guitar driven theme with light psychedelic flavors added to good effect, with a harder and more massive midsection that again indicates a certain knowledge about early 70’s Black Sabbath. A nice track initially that gets more intriguing by the minute. The following Brick by Brick doesn’t impress me quite as much, a kind of frantic Led Zeppelin inspired theme alternating with the dark elegance of The Doors and Black Sabbath’s more doom-laden expression, but again a piece that gets more fascinating along the way. Concluding this album is Drifting, an aptly named creation of gentle light toned guitar motifs and elongated, psychedelic coated guitar soloing.
I found this album to be a highly enjoyable affair, with nods in interesting artistic directions without replicating either of them. Enticing moods and atmospheres, and with a vocalist versatile enough to easily cope with the different style variations thrown at him. I’d suggest those with an interest in 70’s oriented hard rock in general to give this one a spin, and those who enjoy The Doors and Black Sabbath both a possible key audience.
My rating: 83/100
