Crusade of Bards are based in Madrid, and this is the debut album from the symphonic metal band. They include cello as one of their instruments, not something normally associated with a metal act, and consist of Captain Eleanor Tenebre (vocals), Paolo “The Bard” Andreotti (keyboards, backing vocals), Adrian “The Time Knitter” Carrero (guitars), Lara “Percia” Garrido (bass), Jorge “You” Homobono (drums) and Mery “Deep” Red (cello). There is no doubt that Tenebre has an amazing voice, and the band mix it up with lots of different styles from the symphonic to bringing in some folk elements as well as going down the more classical routes, a ballad, shanty and what they call a raging battle song.

But there is something missing here, there just isn’t a spark, nothing to lift it out of the norm and take it into the stratosphere. The production is fine, as are the performances, but I found little in the material which really wants me to keep playing it repeatedly. It’s not a bad album, but it feels much more as a vehicle for a voice as opposed to songs which combine together to make something dramatic and powerful. It is almost as if the band have tried to follow a symphonic playbook but have missed a few pages here and there. I’ve tried with this, I really have, but it just isn’t working, and I can’t see me ever playing it again. It’s a shame as there is no doubt they are really good musicians, and have invested a lot of time and energy into this, while getting Dani G (Rage, Lingua Mortis Orchestra, Firewind, Last Days of Eden) to mix and master this won’t have been cheap either. There may be some out there raving about the latest symphonic metal band on the block, but I’m afraid I’m not one of them. Keep an eye out for Eleanor Tenebre though, she can really sing.

Rating: 6/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/CrusadeBards/
https://www.prideandjoy.de/