Anthology of Horror

I liked the first Vincent Crowley album, 2021's Beyond Acheron, because it didn't conform to one particular style and sounded "fresh" to my ears (can an album with death vocals really be called "fresh"?). With album number 2, 2024's Anthology of Horror, some of the bloom is off the rose for me. Crowley and his band still blend black, death, doom and traditional metal, and with lyrics about popular horror topics (Cthulhu, werewolves, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, etc.), the ingredients are certainly there for something interesting, but it never comes together. Crowley's harsh but understandable vocals are fine, but his vocal lines are often clumsy and the lyrics heavy-handed, the riffs are either generic or mushy, and the lead work uninspired. Clearly going for a King Diamond vibe (they cover "Killer" from The Spider's Lullaby), Anthology of Horror offers hints and scraps of what the band is shooting for, but ultimately never comes close to the intended target. There are parts here and there, like a doomy, atmospheric part or a melody, that are cool, but nothing lasts any great length of time, to say nothing of supporting an entire track. It isn't a terrible album, but after every listen I was left feeling like it could have been a lot better.