PORTRAIT

Swedish Mercyful Fate worshippers Portrait have delivered again. Their first album was good but this is stronger in every sense - the songs, the production and the King Diamond-esque vocal delivery of new singer Per Karlsson. I always thought it would be hard to replace Phillip Svenefelt (vocalist on their eponymous debut album) but Portrait have pulled a new singer right out of that magician’s hat. Okay, so he’s got a good take on the King himself but Per Karlsson does have his own voice as well which he puts to good use across the album’s eight tracks. It is all steeped in 1984 metal histrionics, but if we talk of heydays of metal then the early 80s stands out and Portrait have indeed drunk deep of the cup. This album certainly sounds like it was fun to make and impassioned by those who couldn’t give a damn about current trends. With the revival of traditional 80s and thrash metal Portrait have the chance to ride high with ‘Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae’ alongside bands such as In Solitude and Ghost. The riffs are heavy, the solos are excellent and have that Mercyful Fate twin attack to them and the vocals just know how to grab you such as the opening refrain to ‘Darkness Forever’. Like King Diamond and Mercyful Fate, you will either love this or hate it. I love it!

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Blade

Album

CRIMEN LAESAE MAJESTATIS DIVINAE

Review by Paul Sims

RUNNING TIME:

53:42

RELEASE DATE:

9th May 2011

TRACK LISTING

1) Beast of Fire
2) Infinite Descension
3) The Wilderness Beyond
4) Bloodbath
5) Darkness Forever
6) The Nightcomers
7) The Passion
8) Der Todesking

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"It is all steeped in 1984 metal histrionics, but if we talk of heydays of metal then the early 80s stands out and Portrait have indeed drunk deep of the cup."