Thornéd Crown may describe themselves as a “dungeon folk outfit,” but the Rochester band’s debut cassette release “The Commons” is a stylistically diverse collection of (mostly) instrumental songs, ranging from the modal psych raga of “Swamprun,” reminiscent of Kikagaku Moyo or Goat, to the ‘70s folk horror movie soundtrack territory of “Torchlight.” Expanse by Thorned Crown Opening track “Plains/Fireside” is a loose garage fuzz rocker that evokes an early Broadcast demo before giving way to an extended pastoral outro. Momentum picks up on “Expanse” with the drums, synths and guitar locking together into an insistent, driving stomp with background vocals wailing overhead. Side 1 then closes out with “Gate,” a dialed-back post-rock piece reminiscent of “TNT”-era Tortoise. On Side 2, “Crypt” covers similar ground to “Expanse,” but at a slower tempo with a bluesier feel. “Dirge” is a surprising number that evokes an eerie Eastern European waltz, not unlike Beirut’s ethnographic forays. “The Commons” has a sonic weight to it without ever getting too “heavy,” and it captures a young band whose ambitions are still a step or two ahead of what they can get down on tape. But that’s what cassette releases are for: a first crack at pinning those ambitions to something physical. Their Live at Meddlesome Lab recording on YouTube from late 2025 suggests the gap is closing fast — like most young bands, they’re at their best in a room. Since that recording, the band has undertaken an eight-date Midwest tour and done the rounds as opening support at local venues including The Bug Jar and Skylark Lounge. They’ll build on that momentum with an album release show for “The Commons” on Saturday, August 1 at Bookeater. Also on the bill are Pena, Ellaar and Ronnie Youngman. The post REVIEW | ‘The Commons’ by Thornéd Crown appeared first on CITY Magazine. Arts. Music. Culture.. ...read more read less