Band: Portrait
Title: Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae
Label: Metal Blade Records
Distribution: Rough Trade Benelux.
Release date: July 9th 2011
Review: CD

Sweden’s Portrait were formed in 2006, intending to bring the ‘true’ spirit of Metal, fighting the fake Thrash and power Metal bands that sicken the scene nowadays. And they’re hungry to take back the flag of Hate. Yeah, horns up, brothers.
Portrait released one self-called full length and two 7”EPs and the band’s live reputation is incredible, it seems. For the recording of the sophomore full album, Portrait entered the Necromorbus Studio with Tore Stjerna, usually involved with obscure Death and Black Metal bands in the studio (think: Demonical, Valkyrja, Merrimack, Repugnant, Tribulation etc.). It was a correct decision to do so, because the Necromorbus-sound spices the album with a sinister smell.
Portrait perform Traditional Heavy Metal, yet somewhat special. An important influence are Mercyful Fate. Some riffs and rhythms are strongly comparable, and especially the vocals are very comparable to Kim ‘King Diamond’ Petersen (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond, Black Rose, Danger Zone etc.). However, the vocals are less raspy and sometimes more high-pitched. And the diversity is different from King Diamond’s as well – yet one cannot ignore a clear comparison. And indeed this somewhat goes for the lyrics too.
The Heavy Metal also includes elements from NWOBHM (the First Wave), USHM (not the Power Metal-oriented side, yet rather the Thrash / Speed-influenced one) and Traditional Heavy Metal in general, all with a thrashy edge. Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae rocks like the old skool, including the energetic drive and surprising with a perfect balance between, excuse me, traditional simplicity and modern rebellion!

Note: see also the review on the new In Solitude-album The World. The Flesh. The Devil, released via Metal Blade Records as well.

86/100

Ivan Tibos.