Myths are a vast, unexplored territory to music. So many different tales, so many different forms of each tale… it’s almost incomprehensible. Therefore, I always find it admirable when a band decides to take an excerpt from that library full of tales and mould it into a potpourri of melodic metal. The Germany-based Crystallion is such a band, and I had the honours of reviewing their second album focussed around the Templar knights myth, Hattïn.

Crystallion is influenced by a number of bands, such as Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Helloween and Rhapsody. The music they make is little more than straightforward power metal, mixed with a hint of epicness. Although the guitar solos sound good, the riffs could not really impress me. They’re certainly not bad, but the band sounds too much like their musical influences and that is a lasting impression. Also, they take pride in promoting the fact they have a vocalist that has a wide range, vocally. Be that as it may; to me, his voice is anything but a singing voice. It’s squeaky on the high notes and sounds a little forced when trying to stay within the boundaries of a single chord.
The melodies on Hattïn are memorable, but do not equal the epic atmosphere that the lyrics are trying to create. A pity, because like I said earlier in this review, the concept is an interesting one.

The band has talented musicians, which makes me wonder why they chose the path they currently walk. The riffs could be made much more interesting with some simple adjustments. Instead, they rely on their vocalist too much which makes the whole sound a lot cheaper than what it could have been. Too bad.