The Crown (band)

Swedish metal band

The Crown

The Crown at Heidelberg Deathfest 2025

Background information
Also known as| Crown of Thorns, Dobermann
Origin| Trollhättan, Sweden
Genres|

* Melodic death metal
* thrash metal
* death metal

Years active| 1990–2004, 2009–present
Labels| Black Sun, Metal Blade, Century Media
Members|

* Marko Tervonen
* Johan Lindstrand
* Robin Sörqvist
* Mattias Rasmussen
* Mikael Norén

Past members|

* Jonas Stålhammar
* Tomas Lindberg
* Robert Österberg
* Marcus Sunesson
* Janne Saarenpää
* Magnus Olsfelt
* Henrik Axelsson

Website| thecrownofficial.com

The Crown is a Swedish death metal/thrash metal band from Trollhättan, active from 1990 to 2004 and again since 2009.

## History

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Originally, they used the name Crown of Thorns but were forced to change their name due to an American band already using that name. Their music and lyrics are inspired by death, antireligious themes (mostly targeting Christianity) and rebellion. They are known to fuse melodic death metal with aggressive old-school death metal tendencies and considerable thrash metal influences, reminiscent of bands such as Possessed and old Sepultura. The Crown disbanded in 2004. After that, Lindstrand went on to form One Man Army and the Undead Quartet.[1] Tervonen formed Angel Blake, named after a song by Danzig. Sunesson is in a band called Engel. Olsfelt is also in a band called Stolen Policecar. The band was reformed in December 2009 with Jonas Stålhammar of God Macabre as the new vocalist.[2]

On 30 June 2010, it was reported that The Crown signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records and the band's eighth studio album, Doomsday King, was released in September 2010.[3]

The Crown celebrated their 25th anniversary with the release of their ninth studio album, Death Is Not Dead on 12 January 2015. The first single "Headhunter" was released on 27 October 2014 as well as the music video was made on the same date.[4]

On 28 November 2017, it was announced that The Crown had returned to Metal Blade Records, and released the first single "Iron Crown" from their then-upcoming tenth studio album Cobra Speed Venom, on 12 January 2018.[5] On that album, The Crown used a string quartet with Alexander Bringsoniou playing violin, viola and cello.[6] Their eleventh studio album, Royal Destroyer, was released 12 March 2021.[7] Their next album, Crown of Thorns, is due for release on 11 October 2024.[8]

## Musical style

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The Crown's music is an aggressive mix of a more melodic version of death metal and thrash metal. Their first demo recording Forever Heaven Gone was described as "truly brutal Swedish death metal that didn't have the typical Swedish sound that bands like Entombed and Dismember were known for." Rather, their aggressive style with heavy riffs and deep powerful vocals was compared to Florida death metal.[9]

The lyrics deal with "diabolical blasphemy, [...] death, darkness, destruction, revolution, war, drugs, sex, black magic and of course rock'n'roll."[10] Jon Kristiansen described The Crown as "a less philosophical, unyielding thrash band".[11] Legacy writer Volkmar Weber described it as surprising "what depth the lyrics have [...] profound inner views and attitudes to life from people who know what they are talking about".[10]

## Members

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Promotional photo, 2003

Current line-up

* Marko Tervonen – rhythm guitar (1990–2004, 2009–present)
* Johan Lindstrand – vocals (1990–2001, 2002–2004, 2011–present)
* Marcus Sunesson – lead guitar (1993–2004, 2009–2013, 2024–present)
* Mattias Rasmussen – bass (2022–present)
* Mikael Norén – drums (2022–present)

Former members

* Magnus Olsfelt – bass (1990–2004, 2009–2022)
* Janne Saarenpää – drums (1990–2004, 2009–2014)
* Robert Österberg – lead guitar (1990–1993)
* Tomas Lindberg – vocals (2001–2002)
* Jonas Stålhammar – vocals (2009–2011)
* Robin Sörqvist – lead guitar (2013–2024)
* Henrik Axelsson – drums (2014–2022)

Timeline

## Discography

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### Albums

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* The Burning (1995 as Crown of Thorns)
* Eternal Death (1997 as Crown of Thorns)
* Hell Is Here (1999)
* Deathrace King (2000)
* Crowned in Terror (2002)
* Possessed 13 (2003)
* Crowned Unholy (2004)
* Doomsday King (2010)
* Death Is Not Dead (2015)
* Cobra Speed Venom (2018)
* Royal Destroyer (2021)
* Crown of Thorns (2024)

### Demos

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* Forever Heaven Gone (1993)
* Forget the Light (1994)

## Videography

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### DVDs

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* The Crown Invades Karlsruhe (2004), pro-shot live show included with Crowned Unholy CD
* 14 Years of No Tomorrow (2006), three DVDs consisting of a documentary and live shows

## References

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1. ^ "One Man Army and the Undead Quartet – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
2. ^ "The Crown is back!". Blabbermouth. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
3. ^ "Reunited The Crown signs with Century Media Records". Blabbermouth. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
4. ^ "THE CROWN To Release 'Death Is Not Dead' Album In January". Blabbermouth. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
5. ^ "THE CROWN Returns To METAL BLADE RECORDS For New Album; 'Iron Crown' Single Due In January". Blabbermouth.net. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
6. ^ "The Crown – Cobra Speed Venom". Discogs. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
7. ^ "THE CROWN Set March Release For Royal Destroyer Album; "Motordeath" Music Video Posted". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
8. ^ "The Crown - Guitarist Marcus Sunesson Returns; New Full Length Coming". Metal Storm. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
9. ^ Crown of Thorns - "Forever Heaven Gone" Demo '93. In: Petrified 'Zine, No. 2, Winter 1993, p. 28.
10. ^ a b "The Crown". legacy.de (in German). 17 April 2000. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016.
11. ^ Jon Kristiansen: Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries. Brooklyn, NY: Bazillion Points Books 2011, p. 435.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Crown.

* Metal Blade Records' The Crown page (archived)
* The Crown at AllMusic

* v
* t
* e

The Crown

* Marko Tervonen
* Magnus Olsfelt
* Johan Lindstrand
* Robin Sörqvist
* Henrik Axelsson

* Tomas Lindberg

Studio albums|

* The Burning
* Eternal Death
* Hell Is Here
* Deathrace King
* Crowned in Terror/Crowned Unholy
* Possessed 13
* Doomsday King
* Death Is Not Dead
* Cobra Speed Venom
* Royal Destroyer

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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