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August 2025

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[ More Music Reviews ]

Crowne: Wonderland

Melodic Metal Rock/AOR

5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 19.08.2025 | Released: 22.08.2025

Going from strength to strength with each new album is Sweden's Crowne, featuring some of that nation's finest melodic metal and hard rock musicians. Notably there's vocalist Alexander Strandell (also Art Nation, Lionville, and Nitrate) who has been busy since the last Crowne album, Operation Phoenix. With Lionville he dropped Supernatural in 2023, and recently, this past May, Art Nation's latest, The Ascendance. Now, Strandell and Crowne return with their album, Wonderland, featuring the fine songwriting from founder and key board player, Jona Tee (H.E.A.T).

Crowne

Vocalist Alexander Strandell commented on the new album: It feels incredible to share this third chapter with all of you. Working alongside the amazing team at Frontiers and my brothers Jona, Kicken, John, and Love has been an absolute honour. If you're a fan of Art Nation, The Poodles, H.E.A.T., Dynazty, or Europe - this ones for you.

With complete transparency, I cannot be objective with this review. From the dawn of their first album, I dig this band. If you loved everything about its predecessors, you will head to your favorite independent record store and buy Wonderland. There's some many fine and consistent characteristics to the songs: strong melodic vocals and harmonies, sharp riffs and bristling solos, a rhythm section delivering bombastic rock groove, and then, arrangements that are simply dynamic with AOR arena ready accessibility.

Excepting the balladish anthem Goodbye, most every song is a strong melodic metal romp and excellent. If I had to pick some stand outs: Timing Is Right, Wonderland, Love They Enemy, and the heavier Warlords Of The North, which includes songwriting from Saxon's Biff Byford

All said, and simply, Crowne's Wonderland is a tour-de-force of their outstanding and entertaining AOR-inspired melodic metal rock. Dig it. Quite recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

All said, and simply, Crowne's Wonderland is a tour-de-force of their outstanding and entertaining AOR-inspired melodic metal rock. Dig it. Quite recommended.

Support the artist, click the link below to buy the album at Amazon (US site) in your favorite format.

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Three decades on and still going strong is the iconic progressive rock band, The Flower Kings, founded by veteran multi-instrumentalist and composer Roine Stolt. Since 1994, The Flower Kings have been known ... [ Read More ]

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