Crescent Shield Official Website

“The Stars of Never Seen” Reviews

by Dan on May.13, 2009, under Reviews

Well folks, the reviews are coming in for the new record and we are pretty excited about the MASSIVE PRAISE we are receiving (although we did get one score of 0/10 … yuck). Here is the first installment of reviews. I plan to post more when they come in because I just love tooting my own horn. HAIL!!

“Well, here it is, the number 1 US-metal album of the year 2009. Yes, it is that good. …one of those rare works that you will still give a spin in ten, twenty years time, when 98 percent of 2009’s albums, bands and fads will have sunk into well-deserved oblivion. Classic, powerful US-metal from a gifted four-piece who pour their heart and soul into every single note they play - what more could you, the discerning metal listener, possibly want? 98 /100″
digital-steel.com

“Powerful and delicate US-Metal where the songs are always total works of art. 9/10″
mega-metal.de

“I’m thrilled and suspect that I am hearing the best traditional metal release of the current year.”
powermetal.de

“A timeless classic of melodic U.S. Metal is born. Top score. Recommended.”
heavyhardes.de

“The songs are all at a very high level, including for example, the magnificent ‘The Grand Horizon’ with superb vocal arrangements. The guitar work is, like its predecessor, beautifully sophisticated without relegating the other instruments to the shadows. Bass and drums present themselves as a well established unit, intelligently woven into the songs. As a last piece in the picture, enthroned above it all, is the idiosyncratic but also very emotional singer Michael Grant. Especially with the vocal arrangements, you realize that CRESCENT SHIELD are not prone to stagnation. The appearance of many overlapping and polyphonic melodies show that the band has a love for detail in the songwriting.”
squealer-rocks.de

“Michael Grant is singing, on the whole slightly lower, but still, the songs have beautiful vocal lines. Dan DeLucie proves for the umpteenth time to be a gifted guitarist. Fantastic compositions like ‘Tides Of Fire’ and ‘The Endurance’ are accompanied by great intros and interludes giving the songs a rich atmosphere, while the full-throttle ‘My Anger’is quite a surprise. ‘Lifespan’ provides tasty riffs and the most epic song of ‘The Stars Of Never Seen’. In short, diversity is strength. 92/100″
metalfan.nl

“‘The Stars Of Never Seen’ is an absolutely diverse and, above all, innovative record, that tops each record that I have on my desk this year. The mixture of the different elements that throws so many records into the mainstream-abyss, is the crucial point. All the different influences fit perfectly together and don’t seem to be superfluous. There are fast, hard tracks like ‘My Anger’, but also some more quiet and hymnic titles (’The Bellman’). Crescent Shield has something to offer for everyone!

After I really liked the debut, I have to admit that the group has developed a lot with ‘The Stars…’. The material never sounds unwieldy, although in some of the songs the spark won’t ignite after the first few listens because the record is so versatile and needs a few spins before the true quality enfolds. For some of you, this record won’t be something to dive into, for me Crescent Shield really delivers an absolutely highlight. An explosive mixture between Helstar and Dream Theater, that will detonate one hundred percent.”
metal.de

“After releasing such a formidable debut like ‘The Last of My Kind’ it is of course inevitable to ask: “Are Crescent Shield able to beat their self-imposed hurdle?” A question which can be answered with “YES!” without any doubt - Although ‘The Stars of Never Seen’ deserves some intense listening, before the album reveals all its musical glory. But this time they also managed - unlike many other bands – the balancing act between toughness, epic moments, and progressive parts seemingly effortlessly. With these abilities, they managed to forge a really outstanding piece of Heavy Metal music. 9/10″
metalglory.de

“A - Outstanding”
gaspetc.com

“A progressive melodic metal surprise from America …singer Michael Grant shines”
twilight-magazin.de

“This is solid old school heavy metal with balls and ambition, played well and with loads of talent and passion. I really can’t ask for anything more and Crescent Shield is an album that is well worth your time. 4/5″
kvltsite.com

“I know I gave much praise to the last Crescent Shield but with The Stars of Never Seen you need to step it up even more as the Melodic and Song structure is even better now. All I can hear is the Best elements of Iced Earth, Warrel Dane/ Nevermore and Guns N Roses all mixed in to one unit that if given the change could top the rock world . Michael Grants vocals are just that Warrel Danes meets Matt Barlow in every form imagined. I never thought of mixing melodic hard rock and power metal into one fusion but Crescent Shield has done it to a majestic form. I love the heavy thumping bass mixed with the melodic and metallic guitars twisting an melding the aural magic. The drums are so tastefully done and never over place they lock in the tempo and then when needed take it out to the extreme metallic blitz that is needed. There is a bit of a Prog Metal element that I can hear in a symphonic x way but they are never a prog metal band. Just add the tastes to the music to add another enjoyable twust and turn. Crescent Shield this is what Metal music is suppose to sound like thank you…”
azm-magazine

“a disc decidedly more mature in terms of songwriting and composition. 8.5/10″
holymetal.com

“What we have here is something that is power metal but has something of a raw feel about it while still being epic and reminds me of the best of early American tradional and American power metal’s beginnings. A nice variation between heavier and faster moments is balanced well with rolling passages and melodic moments. One thing that boosts this release is the fact that the music never settles too much into one mold and Michael Grant is more than capable of handling the different mood shifts. Only two releases in, I find the sound of this band is instantly recognizable and that’s not a small feat with all the different bands out there. Between the riffs of Delucie and the resounding, deep and melodic voice of Grant this band just has a great thing going. Not to be undersold either is great bass lines that drive songs like The Bellman’s roll in particular. I could see this band appealing to some people who aren’t into modern power metal much as it has something distinctly more traditional about it and doesn’t have the cheese factor some power metal.

The Stars Of Never Seen is another win for Crescent Shield and these guys definitely deserves more attention than they have received so far. This band’s stock is certainly high in terms of my own listening pleasure. I’ll be looking forward to hearing more from Crescent Shield. I’d recommend this to any fans of a rawer 80s traditional meets power sound grounded in Iron Maiden influence.”
thestygianhall.yuku.com

“Crescent Shield sets up a song and choruses in a quite interesting, even extraordinary manner. The voice of Michael Grant, similar to Geoff Tate of Queensrÿche, but less exaggerated, captivates from beginning to end of the album.”
musicinbelgium.net

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