What makes The Wreckage of Stars by Black Crown Initiate notable?

This album garnered significant attention in the metal community, receiving praise for its intricate compositions and thematic depth. It helped position Black Crown Initiate as key players in the modern progressive metal movement, influencing subsequent bands with its innovative sound. The Wreckage of Stars is Black Crown Initiate's debut studio album, released in early 2014 following their well-received EP, Song of the Crippled Bull. At this point, the band was establishing their identity within the progressive metal scene, transitioning from a promising local act to a recognized name in the genre.

How many songs are on The Wreckage of Stars?

The Wreckage of Stars has 10 tracks, running approximately 52 minutes.

The Wreckage of Stars

Black Crown Initiate · 2014

52 min · 10 tracks

A heavy blend of progressive metal and melodic elements creates an atmospheric exploration of despair and existential themes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Fractured One — This track features a dynamic range of vocal styles, showcasing the band's ability to seamlessly shift between melodic singing and harsh vocals while exploring complex emotional themes.
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The Wreckage of Stars — The title track encapsulates the album's overarching themes of disillusionment and cosmic despair, blending haunting melodies with intricate instrumentation that highlights the band's technical prowess.
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Withering Waves — With its expansive soundscape and lyrical introspection, this track exemplifies the band's unique approach to storytelling through music, making it a standout piece on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate compositions and dynamic vocal contrasts, establishing a strong identity within progressive metal.

What we noticed

Vocal styles alternate between clean singing and harsh growls, creating a dynamic contrast that enhances the thematic depth.
Several tracks incorporate atmospheric interludes that serve as transitions, adding to the overall narrative flow of the album.
The final track, 'Linear', concludes with an extended instrumental section that gradually fades out, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved tension.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 A Great Mistake 6:49
2 The Fractured One 3:36
3 The Malignant 7:35
4 This Human Lie Manifest 4:31
5 Withering Waves 6:02
6 To the Eye That Leads You 4:57
7 The Wreckage of Stars 6:40
8 Shape's Collapse 5:04
9 Purge 5:06
10 Linear 2:22

What to play next

Listen next

Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape

2020

Go back to

Selves We Cannot Forgive

Full Black Crown Initiate discography Artists like Black Crown Initiate

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