Additionally, we posted another video from KEEP IT TRUE a while back. If you haven’t seen it yet… take a look!

There’s been talk about releasing The Stars of Never Seen on vinyl… but so far nothing concrete has occurred.  The plan is to have it released by April for the KEEP IT TRUE festival. We did the layout with Mr Travis Smith so let’s hope this thing gets released. There might be a poster included with the LP if I’m not mistaken.

Besides all that, were are working on songs for the next album. Mike and I have been tossing ideas back and forth and we’ve settled in on a basic direction for the album’s focus and the music is taking shape to support the theme. That’s all for now. HAIL!

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“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

Buy Crescent Shield music directly from the band and help finance the next album

“The Stars of Never Seen” CD only

Price: $12.00 + shipping

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CD + US shipping $14.00 CD + Euro shipping $18.00

“The Last of my Kind” CD

Price: $12.00 + shipping

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CD + US shipping $14.00 CD + Euro shipping $18.00

“The Last of my Kind” Vinyl

Price: $15.00 + shipping

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Vinyl + US ship $20.00 Vinyl + Euro ship $25.00

Cypher Seer “Awakening Day” CD
With Michael Grant of Crescent Shield on vocals.

Price: $10.00 + shipping

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CD + US shipping $12.00 CD + Euro shipping $16.00

Michael here!

As a stormy decade starts to fade away, another comes in the form of mystery. We do not know where we are heading but we dare to find out. Therefore, we give you…THE STARS OF NEVER SEEN!! Come and take a few journeys through time and new distances. This new offering of Metal is darker, heavier and more progressive than last time, yet retains the classic Crescent Shield sound. Here are some fun thoughts on these new songs. Enjoy!

UNDER COVER OF SHADOWS
The album begins not with a “burst out of the gates” type song, but rather with a twisty, mysterious creature emerging from an evil mist. Then, mounting and riding a winged beast, charging into a war of unseen plagues of deception and death. Metal is thy name under myriad guises and we show you many in this song. The riffs are in the style of vintage DeLucie not heard since his “Secret Wisdom” days. We leave you to your own devices to unravel the true meaning of this song. Two notable sections are the galloping verses and the haunting “Witch Dance.” You can hide and shiver….or lift the cover of shadows. The choice is yours!

THE GRAND HORIZON
The ultimate science fiction heavy metal adventure. Fans of Destiny’s End will love this speed filled, headbanger’s delight. Loaded with high energy guitars, drums and Valkerie-like vocals, this tells the story of a man fed up with this world and seeks “The stars of Never Seen,” - what lies beyond the known universe. He builds “A tear of light;” a craft constructed of pure energy, which allows him to travel thousands of times the speed of light. He does not know what lies ahead, but still races forth and encounters many strange worlds and experiences. It’s classic metal seasoned with elements of Voivod, Dio and completed by Dan’s signature space travel solo! This would make a great video (if we could do one that would allow the Hollywood-budget needed for it!)

TIDES OF FIRE
As the embers of “The Grand Horizon” fade, another dark tale emerges. Solely written by Dan DeLucie, this thoughtful song is based on the novel “A Canticle for Leibowitz” by Walter M. Miller Jr. It is the story of what happens when a civilization experiences a worldly holocaust and then gets stuck in a primitive state. This is due to the fear of new advancements leading to more future Armageddon. It is a sad story and a sad song. Nevertheless, it is filled with beautiful melodies, lyrics and memorable textures. Many guitars sing the themes and the rich vocals carry the story to its bitter conclusion.

10,000 MIDNIGHTS AGO
Once in Vancouver, Canada, I was overwhelmed by the grey sadness of the sea and murky sky in contrast with the vibrant city and breathtaking mountains. One night, I looked up and was greeted by a startlingly crystal clear and starlit night. Feelings of sadness and hope bonded together to inspire the chorus and bridge riffs. As for the subject, I started to think back 30 years or so (10,000 midnights…it’s a better title!) and remembered how the music I love affected me when I first heard it. To this day, I still have child like dreams and hopes but have also gotten to know the harsh realities of life. While this song remains constant in its tone and tempo, the real layers are found in how the lyrics and vocal melodies dance to the subtle guitars and drum nuances. It is my most personal song on the record and we hope you peer inside and look back as well.

TEMPLE OF THE EMPTY
I had trouble with this one when we were doing the demo sessions for this album. Dan, Melanie and Craig all loved it, but I was frustrated. Now, after a year of reworking the vocals, lyrics and overall structure, I find it to be one of the most fascinating and satisfying songs on the record (especially the striking mandolin sequence). Dan’s brilliant and haunting verse riffs challenged my vocal limits. The choruses are drenched in emotion exemplified by Melanie’s killer bass work. Fun fact…the bridge was once a stand-alone riff arranged by all four of us during our second ever rehearsal seven years ago! Lyrically, the song explores passive aggressiveness and how it can whittle us down to empty hollow shells. More horrible is to realize that too many of people in the world already exist in this state of mind. The song ends with one of the most heartfelt and mournful guitar solos ever.

MY ANGER
The outlaw of the album. This song was actually written during the “Last of My Kind” sessions. It’s probably the most straight-ahead song. Writing-wise we broke our own rules. The vocals goes along with the riff, words are frequently repeated and so on. It did not fit the character of LOMK so we put it on this record due to its sinister vibe. To be clear about it’s lyrical content… I’m not an angry or hateful person. This song is not about prejudice, hate or abuse or anything those weirdo Nazi skinhead losers like to shout about. This is a song about a good person who has been constantly wronged. It’s about passive aggressiveness and its end result. (In a way it’s a fitting companion to “Temple of the Empty”) These are some of my oldest lyrics. Some phrases were written when I was 12 years old. I had to put up with bully nonsense cuz of the Kiss and Maiden shirts I wore. It’s a classic subject I thought I would revisit. Now go thrash out!

THE BELLMAN
This is probably our most unusual song so far. The story is about the ghost of a mate, a sailor on a ship that sank due to the arrogance of the crew. They thought that standard practices in navigation were beneath them and that they were above the elements. The Bellman is now cursed and trapped in a port of call in the early 18th century. The only people who can see and hear him are the young, arrogant sailors destined to die at sea. The Bellman’s warnings of impending doom go unheeded and as the headstrong boys ship out, the last thing they hear is his bell. “It rings the chime of fate.” The song is completely written in a major key and the structure is reminiscent of a fable. The story is told by three characters: the Bellman (B); the young, arrogant sailors (Y); and the narrator (The Chorus – as Shakespeare called his narrator “the chorus” in Henry V). While it has an almost Broadway-ish feel to it, it’s still very METAL!! It is a short number, clocking in at 3:18, and serves as a good precursor to…

THE ENDURANCE
Crescent Shield’s most epic song to date. For years Dan has been fascinated by this story and he built a labyrinth of riffs over a two year period. Although nearly 10 minutes long, it is not overwhelming. Rather, it is a journey that takes you through the story at its most crucial points. Building, bellowing, soaring and retracting, it showcases some of our most intense performances (including masterful drumming by Craig) as well as some of our most quiet moments. I too became fascinated by this true story of the doomed Antarctic expedition led by Ernest Shackleton. Even though he and his crew never make it to the South Pole and the ship is crushed by the ice, the survivors cling to life for two years…It is a true tale of Endurance.

LIFESPAN
Many great Metal albums have epic closing numbers and “Lifespan” is no exception. The subject is as straightforward as it gets. We only have one life…live it well. For when we die, that’s it! However, I have given the lyrics a warning-like twist and a hidden dark message that can only be found before one’s death. This song debuted live at the Keep It True festival in 2008 and received a tremendous response. It’s personally one of my favorites and I think it would make a great “single” if such things exist anymore. This song moves at a breakneck pace and never lets up. The choruses are bold and memorable that lead up to its addicting fade out. Tight performances all around make this a Crescent Shield classic!