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Sorcerer emergence from the underground is already kind of legendary, based off the release of their demo compilation in 1995, but then they found that to be living legends is harder. Their first proper album, In the Shadow of the Inverted Cross, was good, but not as great as I hoped it would be, but then the Black EP showed them really improving, and this album is pretty much the fulfillment of all their promise from 20+ years ago.

This band pretty much perfectly straddles the line between Epic Traditional Metal and Swedish Doom, with heavy riffing and a more up-tempo approach than a lot of Doom bands. Still, they maintain that almost indefinable Swedish Doom sound, and they sound remarkably like they did back in the day. A big part of that is singer Anders Engberg, who sounds just as good as he ever did. This is a big album full of big riffs and big songs. Opener "Sirens" is a real stomper, and is followed by some other first-rate tunes like "Abandoned by the Gods" and the absolutely stellar title track. I would like a heavier production, with a bit more meat on the guitars. Also, some of the songs are not as memorable, and I find that "Ship of Doom" and "Devil's Incubus" drag a bit, but those are minor quibbles.

This is as solid a Doom album as you are likely to hear this year, and for a band who were dormant as long as this one to make an album this good is pretty amazing. Far from a nostalgia piece, The Crowning of the Fire King is an excellent slice of real Doom.