Reviews

Heavy Lies The Crown, the Ferret debut by Full Blown Chaos, is packed with snarling, gritty vocals, harsh yet decisive guitar, and 12 hard-hitting tracks that deliver a heartfelt punch every time. The problem is that every punch is similar to the last. This album seemed like it had so much potential and just couldn't quite get past the threshold to really be a great album. Not to be too negative about it though, because it was a pretty fun listen for a fan of the metal/thrash/punk genre that is becoming more and more popular everyday.

The album starts strong with the track "Firefight" and never really wavers from the style that Full Blown Chaos has embodied. The issue here is that it's hard to really pick the songs apart from each other. It does make the album have a very seamless, almost streamline effect, but without any real variation in the songs, the listen becomes long and drawn out; it just doesn't have anything that can send a jolt to revitalize you after getting into the record.

Despite this, there are still some strong points. The vocals are harsh and really drive the emotions of every song. The best songs are also the ones that show the most variation, like "Mojave Red Pt. 1" and "Mojave Red Pt. 2." Part 1 is a slower, technical song that showcases the talents of the band. The song lulls the listener into a sense of security and then shatters everything it had built up to with Part 2.

Overall, the album has some strong moments, but it tends to just fall into the category of another album that you'll either enjoy a little or find to be mediocre. It's a good album for fans of In Flames, As I Lay Dying, or Killswitch Engage, but you won't like it as much as In Flames, As I Lay Dying, or Killswitch Engage.