Of all the “labels” we give to genres, then I’d contend that the word “prog” has the widest breadth – and that wide breadth of sound is all on view here.
“Hopium” is Kingcrow’s first album for six years and it seems as though the Italians were keen to pack as much into its nine songs as possible.
It’s lush and expansive from the start, a the chopped groove of “Kintsugi” hits, while the slow-building electronic “Glitch” brings keys man Diego Cafolla to the fore.
Diego Marchesi has a fine, expressive voice, and he’s able to bring out the theatrics of “Parallel Lines” – Porcupine Tree would be pleased with this one – and the slower “New Moon Harvest” has a fragile, Pain Of Salvation quality.
The acoustics of “Losing Game”, the vast soundscape of “White Rabbit Hole” or the hypnotic pulse of “Night Drive” all, in their own way showcase a band of supreme skill, while “Vicious Circle” is perhaps more strident than the others.
The record has only one lengthy song. It’s title cut which ends things, and the ambition of the whole of “Hopium” is wrapped up in its sounds – in places it soars like Muse.
Kingcrow are one of those bands who have enjoyed and embraced their evolution, and this is one of those records you can lose yourself in very easily.
Rating 8.5/10
