By Jim Barber
Canadian prog-rock sensations Crown Lands can dazzle listeners and audiences with their intricate compositions, blow you away with their distinctive musical prowess, maintain you rapt with the literate majesty of their lyrics, and depart you with a way – particularly in a reside setting – that you’ve skilled one thing distinctive, thoughts increasing and eminently memorable.
All that’s to say, and hopefully the duo of Kevin Comeau (guitar/bass/keyboards) and drummer/vocalist Cody Bowles gained’t thoughts the time period, Crown Lands are storytellers. Not within the sense of the categories you get at a library studying to children (though if it’s Clifford The Huge Purple Canine, rely me in!), however extra like these of an epic bard from the occasions of Norse sagas, or the tales instructed to the accompaniment of drums and different homespun devices by the indigenous peoples of North America.
The best way the pair are in a position to deftly and dexterously weave collectively compositional and lyrical complexities that carry an emotional arc is uncommon … and admittedly, fairly sensible.
As if to place an exclamation level on that assertion, Crown Lands launched their new musical magnum opus, Apocalypse, in Could. It’s a sensory tour past time and area; a charming conceptual curler coaster experience that delves not simply into the well-trod tropes of science fiction, however as a substitute utilizing the infrastructure of sci-fi and fantasy to convey prescient observations and opinion about as we speak’s world.
It’s a journey within the sense that one tune results in the subsequent, which results in a decision (of types) on the finish of the brilliantly epic title observe, however it has additionally been a journey for the band in getting thus far, as they’ve needed to navigate via some skilled challenges over the previous couple of years.
As typically occurs within the music enterprise, the ‘enterprise’ facet of the ledger can intrude, or a minimum of distract from the music facet. After fulfilling their contractual obligations with Common Music, Crown Lands was basically an impartial act for a short time, and used the time to put in writing and document two impressed, musically intricate, but nonetheless highly effective albums, Ritual I and Ritual II, which had been launched shortly after signing with InsideOut Music final July, two and a half years after their final album with Common, the favored and critically acclaimed Fearless.
“A giant purpose why it took us so lengthy to make Apocalypse after Fearless was we had been going via this huge transitory stage the place we had moved away from Common Music Canada and it took us a very long time to signal a brand new take care of InsideOut Music who we’re with now. In that point we wrote, recorded and blended Ritual II, which was truly nominated for a Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the 12 months, which was very nice. It was additionally the primary Crown Lands document that was actually written, engineered and blended completely by ourselves on this area,” mentioned Comeau.
“That was the document that gave us the boldness that we truly may do every part ourselves. It takes a very long time to belief your self and belief one another with a course of that you simply’re usually used to paying any person upwards of $500 a day to do these issues for you. We’ve been fortunate sufficient that we’ve labored with such nice engineers and producers through the years, folks like David Bottrill [Peter Gabriel, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, Muse and Rush] and Nick Raskulinecz [who produced the last two Rush studio albums as well as working with Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Deftones, Korn, and Evanescence] and Terry Brown [every Rush album from Fly By Night through to Signals], all of whom have labored with our heroes. We’ve seen first-hand what they’ll do for our artwork, how one can make issues higher.”
Bowles and Comeau did produce Apocalypse however nonetheless selected to usher in two of these pivotal mentors simply to supply a 3rd and fourth set of ears on the challenge.
“For this document we did select to collaborate once more with Nick and David on just a few components. Nick helped us write a few components of the music for ‘Via the Wanting Glass,’ and helped us produce that tune particularly. He additionally helped us document the drums for ‘Apocalypse.’ Then David helped with a few of the vocal high traces on a few of the songs like ‘Blackstar,’ and ‘The Fall,’ ‘Foot Troopers of The Syndicate.’ After which in fact David blended it,” Comeau defined.
“If you’re making this type of music, you possibly can typically lose objectivity. So, on this case, from beginning to write the document to ending the combination it took nearly a 12 months and a half. Most of that was as a result of we had been doing different issues. We had began writing it after which we went off and did Ritual after which we recorded one other instrumental document with Terry Brown and David Barrett, which goes to be popping out late this 12 months, and plenty of different tasks. So this type of ended up sitting round for longer than it most likely ought to have. A lot of the work for Apocalypse acquired finished within the fall of 2025 and in a extra concentrated time period.”
Whatever the peripatetic nature of the method main as much as the completion of the album, the thematic and musical focus by no means waned, with Apocalypse representing the subsequent stage within the evolution of a band that has at all times pushed themselves ahead each as musicians and as songwriters. Bowles and Comeau are minstrels at coronary heart, with each the music and the lyrics and telling tales that have interaction the thoughts, physique and spirit.
That facet of the band’s method and ethos is on show to an excellent higher diploma on this new album, which incorporates a deep, complete and compelling narrative story underpinning each phrase and each notice, all wrapped up in a prog-rock fan’s dream concoction.
“We’re doubling down on our progressive tendencies and particularly our need to inform extra of a cohesive narrative story which we’ve been turning up with each launch. I feel this time round, we now have a completely cohesive storyline sort of from begin to end, ending with ‘Apocalypse.’ I really feel like we’ve actually began to develop that to an awesome level the place it’s nearly like a launching off level for even our future tasks,” mentioned Bowles.
“I feel we’re simply going to maintain doing this much more and simply amping it up. Every launch we’re getting extra progressive than the final musically and conceptually. I particularly get tired of of doing the identical factor. Sure, we do have a sure sound at a sure level and also you do sound a sure method. However I at all times need to incorporate new stuff. We’re huge lovers of music and lifelong learners of life, so we’re at all times attempting to push ourselves musically. So, no matter we’re attempting to be taught within the present second, we attempt to incorporate it not directly, form or kind into the subsequent factor we’re doing. Like, for example, Kev simply acquired a extremely cool new instrument – a Chapman Stick, and he began studying it. So we’re now going to attempt to incorporate that not directly on this subsequent document that we’re writing proper now. We’re simply at all times exploring, I suppose, new territory and discovering new textures, discovering new polyrhythms – all the good things.”
Taking components of well-liked fantasy, science fiction, and even some themes and contextual vitality from as we speak’s click-bait information headlines, Apocalypse continues with a few of the settings, characters and soundscapes utilized on earlier releases, including layers, emotional and story complexity and drama to what’s turning into a real epic.
“The idea got here earlier than we found out a whole lot of the opposite stuff. It was impressed by this jam Kevin despatched over to me; this little phase that had this actually cool and galvanizing part. It appeared like Pink Floyd and I actually cherished it. Then we sort of branched off from there and began jamming stuff. As we progressed, it grew to become obvious that this was a prequel telling the story of the rise of The Syndicate. Now we have a story universe spanning our albums. It talks about this planet known as Karagon, this hero character known as Fearless, who’s the final of his folks, and there’s this evil power that’s colonizing different planets known as The Syndicate. They’re coming and colonizing and taking the assets of those planets, particularly the vitality from their suns and firing it again to their very own dwelling world as a result of their world is dying. The entire premise of this new story is speaking concerning the situations that arose that allowed The Syndicate to rise to prominence on this planet and the rise of the nemesis of the hero Fearless, the antithesis to Fearless and every part he stands for, Blackstar, who’s sort of like our Darth Vader character. The Syndicate is also an Empire analog for Star Wars nerds,” mentioned Bowles, who’s accountable for the textual narrative.
“Basically what occurs is the story takes place within the time when Fearless was asleep, earlier than the occasions of the Fearless album, ‘Starlifter: Fearless Half II’ the place this Syndicate involves Karagon and clashes with the militant faction of Fearless’ folks, and so they experience these dragons in area, which is fairly hilarious. So we now have this loopy conflict between these people who find themselves very in tune with nature, folks with decrease know-how, who need to resort to guerilla warfare down on their very own dwelling turf. However it’s no match for the tremendous know-how of The Syndicate, as a result of they’ve just about mastered this entire intergalactic conquest sport – they stunning a lot eradicated them and so they begin strip mining the planet and putting in this huge mechanism across the solar, this Dyson sphere factor that takes the vitality from the solar again to their planet. So this story is about that conquering of Kerrigan and the way they’ve stolen these assets.
“However then there’s this infighting that occurs on the best way again with Blackstar and the folks on his ship and the remainder of the fleet about what they need to do, how they need to break up the assets. However then they hear again from their dwelling planet that there’s been an rebellion and The Syndicate has assumed management. A civil struggle had damaged in and out the chaos, there’s been a whole lot of bloodshed. When Blackstar will get again, he realizes his household has been murdered and every part he as soon as knew is destroyed. The story actually cements this entire idea of how hate begets hate; violence begets violence. What you sow out on this planet, will ultimately come again to you, particularly issues like violence and oppression.”
It ought to sound acquainted to those that have been listening to the historical past of the world, notably the interaction between the so-called Previous World of Europe and the ‘New World’ of North and South America, the place European colonizers and empire builders got here, noticed, destroyed and imposed societal and financial buildings which can be nonetheless harming the indigenous communities of the western hemisphere. After all, the complete world was a large shopping center of assets, together with hundreds of thousands upon hundreds of thousands of people (slaves), for European imperial powers to tromp in, elevate some flags and declare centuries-old civilizations theirs.
“Sci-fi has at all times pulled from the headlines. Sci-fi has at all times been a mirrored image of the world round us. It simply takes the fact a little bit additional. And all artwork is only a mirror that’s held as much as the fact that you simply’re going through, proper?,” added Comeau.
“This album was largely impressed by what we’re seeing out on this planet. And colonization of indigenous peoples, the entire reconciliation factor, residential colleges, lacking and murdered indigenous ladies – that’s the core of what we do. It’s central to who we’re, even nonetheless. We’ve at all times needed to raise these voices. It’s a scary place [the world] and day by day is a brand new tragedy and we would have liked a spot to place that cathartically right into a inventive outlet,” continued Bowles
Comeau additionally commented not solely on the totally different emotional tonality of the brand new document, but in addition the totally different look the band can have on stage throughout components of their exhibits transferring ahead.
“The subject material is noticeably darker on this document as a result of it’s not simply coping with themes of colonialism, however it’s additionally coping with the rise of fascism that we’re seeing world wide and the way simple it’s to radicalize a traditional individual and get them to determine with one thing that’s truly going in opposition to their very own pursuits. In case you make a traditional individual don’t have any different potential choices, they turn out to be a foot soldier of one thing like The Syndicate. And naturally the music goes to mirror that. However it additionally has given us a possibility so as to add an actual dramatic factor to the reside present. We simply completed a headline tour the place for that vibrant, sparkly sound of Fearless, Cody and I carry out it as a duo. Then we now have a 20-minute intermission and we do a giant costume change and we come out with two additional members and we carry out the Apocalypse materials. Cody’s dressed up as Blackstar and I’ve acquired my sort of dragon-riding outfit on and we duke it out onstage. It’s enjoyable. It’s enjoyable to play that heavier sort of music and embody these characters and at that sense of theatricality. It’s operatic,” he mentioned.
“We even have our guitar tech gown up in a dragon costume throughout ‘Via the Wanting Glass,’ which is our epic dragon-riding ballad, and he runs across the stage inflicting mischief till we slay him throughout the climax of that tune. Then, one way or the other, the poor man drags himself off stage, will get out of the costume, and fingers me my subsequent guitar. So, he’s a real skilled in each sense of the phrase. I like Austin. We needed to push these visible components simply as a lot because the musical components to inform the story we need to inform.”
The 2 ‘new’ band members are bassist Daniel Walton, who additionally does some concord vocals, and drummer/keyboardist Adam Enrig.
“They each play on this unbelievable band known as Dreamland, and I produced their newest document and I consider Terry Brown goes to be mixing, identical to he did for one more band that I produced, known as Brass Camel. After we completed monitoring the music for Dreamland document I used to be blown away by how good these guys had been. I confirmed them the brand new Crown Lands document that we had been nearly to complete and it simply all sort of made sense to convey these guys in to affix us onstage,” Comeau defined.
“As a result of musically all of us click on the identical. Artistically we now have related viewpoints and have the identical issues that we’re keen about. Like, we’re all huge Star Wars nerds. So that they’re an awesome addition to the present, and I do know the viewers goes to like it as a lot as we do.”
With the myriad connections to Rock and Roll Corridor of Famers Rush – realizing them personally, working with plenty of the identical folks each in a reside and studio setting and unabashedly permitting the legendary trio’s musical DNA to infuse their very own music, Crown Lands ‘will get’ the joke that for a lot of their profession, Rush’s fan base was skewed in a predominantly male course, and acknowledge that there often is extra males than ladies at their exhibits as nicely.
“So far as gender goes, it’s at all times going to skew extra male. I do suppose our viewers is a little more balanced that Rush’s, particularly after they had been on the identical stage of their profession as we’re. However it’s nonetheless going to be 60 and even 70 per cent on the male facet. However that’s simply from looking into the group. It’s tougher, typically, to inform what the demographic of your fan base is, particularly as a result of there’s a distinction between streamers and those that purchase the bodily product,” Comeau mentioned.
“We’re at all times speaking about knowledge nowadays, proper? And the cleanest option to get knowledge is from one thing like Spotify. However the issue is that solely tells the info of the people who find themselves utilizing Spotify. And that’s an issue for us, as a result of if you happen to have a look at our demographics, the bulk of people that got here to our headline tour that we simply completed most likely wouldn’t use Spotify as a result of the overwhelming majority had been Child Boomers who are usually not utilizing Spotify. On Spotify, our largest numbers are males of their 30s and 40s. And in addition, the vast majority of our fan base remains to be in Canada so far as streaming goes. In case you take document gross sales, like bodily album gross sales, I do suppose these numbers are literally stronger in Europe than Canada, and that’s most likely as a result of our new document label is predicated in Europe, which was additionally why we acquired our label in Europe within the first place, as a result of we really feel Europe goes to be a very good marketplace for us. There was overwhelming demand for the final document, Fearless; there was a lot demand to get it over into Europe as a result of there gave the impression to be a way more vocal fan base. So it’s onerous to place a finger on who precisely is our ‘viewers.’”
As for touring in Europe … maybe sometime. Geo-politics, financial uncertainty, inflation, and an rising lethargy from the inhabitants in the direction of reside music make the expense of travelling throughout the nation powerful sufficient. Crossing borders is one other matter, and crossing oceans subsequent to inconceivable for many bands, until you might have deep pockets and an already entrenched fan base who will flock to each present and fill each venue and drop each dime they’ve on merch.
“We’re doing just a few festivals in Canada this summer season and we’re doing one other headline run all through Ontario within the fall. We needed to do a complete run throughout Canada however simply logistically it doesn’t make sense. The promoter doesn’t need to pay us sufficient to really even pay for our gasoline to get out to British Columbia and again. So we’re not going to do it this 12 months as a result of we will’t. We are able to’t have a look at a $20,000 loss to drive to Vancouver and again, which breaks my coronary heart as a result of that’s all I need to do is play music, play exhibits. The state of the trade says we will’t do this. It’s what it’s. We’re working as onerous as we will proper now to discover a option to make a U.S. run in March of subsequent 12 months work,” Comeau defined.
“And we’re additionally attempting to determine the logistics of what a European run goes to seem like for us within the fall as nicely. However I gained’t deceive you, it’s not trying good. Each time you need to go on the highway, whether or not you’re going to B.C. and again, whether or not you’re taking place to Florida and again, otherwise you’re going to go to Germany and again, you’re a hefty funding for any of these markets. It’s onerous to take that hit until you occur to have $60,000 to blow on six weeks of hitting the highway along with your friends – most individuals don’t. I imply, Canada has its personal challenges too, as I’ve mentioned. Canada is a really huge and really empty nation. And it’s so intestine wrenching to have a look at the numbers, to see the price of what it could take to exit west and do a run from Vancouver to Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Purple Deer, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg and on the Thunder Bay. We needed to do it tremendous slick and naked bones. So it was Cody and I, one stage tech, who’s going to assist us arrange the guitars and drums and stuff whereas I’m going to do the merch. After which we now have our sound man Graham who helps do entrance of home audio to ensure the present is nice. That’s fairly lean and imply to crew guys, however they’re mates. They’d be giving us pleasant charges. However we don’t need to reap the benefits of them as a result of they’ve payments to pay too. We might fly on the market after which hire an RV, not a bus, so we additionally didn’t need to take care of inns.
“All of that versus the [financial] ensures [from the promoters] that we had been being provided, we had been going to lose $20,000 to try this for 2 weeks. So what’s the purpose since you’re doing all that driving and killing your self. , you do three exhibits in a row and also you’re taking part in a present in Regina after which you need to pack up and drive 10 hours to make it to Winnipeg, and so forth. And also you’re fortunate if you happen to don’t crash, as a result of if you happen to’re doing this in Canada any time from November on, you’re very more likely to hit a winter storm. It’s difficult. In Ontario, we play in entrance of 5 or 6 hundred folks or extra. On the market, we’re most likely going to play in entrance of 200 or 300. So out of that 200 or 300 hopefully they purchase sufficient merch. In case you do 10 of these exhibits, and promote a number of merch, on paper it perhaps turns into a break-even proposition. However you’re nonetheless dropping cash exterior of merch. On the core of the problem, it’s due to how costly every part has gotten: between truck leases, gasoline, getting permits printed if you happen to’re crossing borders to have the ability to register all of your gear, coping with work permits, coping with all of that, after which playing each evening that you would be able to break even or solely lose a little bit bit of cash earlier than you promote merch.”
However they’ve chosen to stay it out, and make these computations and have a look at all of the permutations and hope that tough work, good press and opinions, phrase of mouth buzz (each actual and on-line), bettering document gross sales, and probably the most precious, but in addition most nefariously fickle of things – destiny – will help Crown Lands get to the purpose the place they only need to deal with the music, the taking part in, the present and the viewers.
Within the interim, Comeau and Bowles simply maintain diving deep into their creativeness, their prodigious expertise, and their need to construct a catalog of memorable, subtle musical tomes to have interaction, enlighten and engender reflection that may endure the check of time … and area.
For extra data, go to https://www.crownlandsmusic.com/
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and creator based mostly in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Apart from his journalistic endeavours, he works as a communications and advertising specialist and is an avid volunteer in his group. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
