White Crone
The Poisoner

Established, leader, winner of awards, as a fellow established and award-winning person I know that those words doesn’t necessarily mean a shit, and I always tend to think it is those who are unsure of themselves use such things when they try to sell their work. I think things like that is a footnote and not the thing you open your press text with, it gives the impression of a person not really sure of the merit in her work. Lisa Mann is the person behind White Crone, she is usually a blues artist, apparently with fine merits and five self-released albums who needs to mention that she makes a living solely by making music. Does that mean she frowns at those who make music because they love it and can’t make a living from it? I don’t think it is a merit, there are plenty of great musicians that doesn’t make a living solely from music.

This is Lisa’s first foray into the metal world, she claims the songs came to her all the time and the project eventually turned into this album that is called The Poisoner. It is a bit of an homage to the classic heavy metal, especially those with occult themes, Dio is a good reference. There are some doomier influences and progressive touches but the NWOBHM is probably the best description of what we are listening to when playing this album. Lisa herself sings quite well, she has power in her vocal delivery and that is a strong part of this album. I would say that the sound is very retro and that I have heard better productions but it works fairly well, the variation is also strong making the fifty plus minutes feel sensible enough.

The Poisoner is a good album with good songs that is easy to like, but it is also gnawingly nostalgic in a way that bites you in the nose. You should enjoy the old heavy metal and perhaps doomier stuff as well to really enjoy this one. Some reviewers, or promo writers as I often call them, give this album high ratings and perhaps you could if you like the nostalgic heavy metal – but it isn’t a very memorable album. But while it isn’t very memorable, I think that tracks like the catchy title track and my favourite New Planet Earth can make it an album that is worth checking out.

White Crone does pretty well and I think you can’t really go too wrong with an album of this quality, but the nostalgia of this retro kind of music can be somewhat bothersome and without novelty the music becomes less interesting. It is a solid and good album that will be great for those nostalgic metal fans who populate this world.

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