Q&A With Ced Legger, the Guitarist of KingCrown: Heavy Metal, Songwriting, And the Future of Power Metal

Q: How do you know when a song is finished?

That is the problem! (laughs) We absolutely have to call a halt on each song; otherwise, I can guarantee we’d still be adding details to them! When we listen back to the final result, we always have a bit of perspective and think, “we could have done this or that...” It’s endless, really! But the upside is that we never run out of ideas. Our solution is to let our friends and family—or our managers, Jeep and Laurent—hear the rough mixes. Given their experience, they have a very objective, spot-on perspective and really help us by saying, “Stop, guys—it’s great just the way it is!” and, as everyone knows, the perfect is the enemy of the good.

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KingCrown Q&A Interview: Ced Legger on Heavy Metal and The Band’s Future

KingCrown is a heavy/power metal band made up of Jo Amore (vocalist), Ced Legger (guitar), Bob Saliba (guitar), Seb Chabot (bass), and David Amore (drums). This band blends classic heavy metal with modern power. KingCrown embraces the traditions of 1980s and 1970s heavy and power metal.

“It is a sort of tribute that keeps the style alive and encourages the younger generation to take an interest in it.” Ced Leger, guitarist of KingCrown

Questions and answers from Ced Legger

In this Q&A, Ced Legger of KingCrown talks about the band’s origins, creative process, influences, and what fans can expect next. From heavy/power metal projects to their latest music and more, here’s a closer look at KingCrown.

Rock band performs on a smoky stage under purple and orange lights, with crowd silhouettes and Marshall amps.

Tell us about KingCrown!

If you really want to know where it all started for me, you have to go back to the 90s, when I used to flip through my favourite metal magazines—Hard Force, Hard Rock Magazine, Metallian—and dream of musical glory while reading articles, interviews, and reviews about a legendary French band from the 80s: Nightmare! Back then, I never imagined I’d one day be playing alongside Jo and David Amore! As for KingCrown, it all began in 2021, when our manager, Jeep, contacted me to join the band.

Who are the members of KingCrown?

The band members of KingCrown include Jo Amore (vocalist), Ced Legger (guitar), Bob Saliba (guitar), Seb Chabot (bass), and David Amore (drums)

How would you describe your sound?

We play heavy/power metal heavily influenced by the 80s and 90s—reminiscent of bands like helloween, gamma ray, and primal fear—but with a modern touch, particularly regarding the power of the sound. At a time when metal is leaning heavily toward the “core” trend spawned by nu metal, we remain true to a somewhat purist yet original tradition of the genre—without claiming to have reinvented the wheel.

It is a sort of tribute that keeps the style alive and encourages the younger generation to take an interest in it.

What is one surprising fact about KingCrown that fans might not know?

well... There are so many! (laughs) Personally, I love the Pokémon video games!

What artists, experiences, or moments shaped your current style?

Personally, I’m a huge Iron Maiden fan; they—and specifically Dave Murray—are the reason I became the guitarist I am today. A multitude of other influences shaped me over the years: the metallica/megadeth duo, of course, along with helloween/gamma ray, guns n’ roses, and blind guardian, but also many more extreme styles like fear factory, sepultura, slayer, and finntroll, as well as the black metal scene—bands like mephistopheles, evol, and dimmu borgir... The list is far too long!

How do you approach writing and creating music as a band?

We’re all lucky enough to have home studios where we can lay down our ideas and riffs—even if they don’t sound like much at first! (laughs) Then we send them to each other; everyone adds their own touch, the track takes shape, details are added, the theme emerges, the lyrics come to life, and the song is born. And every now and then, we set aside a weekend to get together—usually at Jo’s house—to discuss the tracks in progress, fine-tune them, and make further improvements... I’d say the real challenge is knowing when to stop. (laughs) I should also mention that we have some outstanding composers in the band—specifically Seb and David, who created the magnificent orchestrations featured on the album.

Is there a piece of gear or technology you can’t live without?

Personally, I keep things very simple... All my tracks are recorded in GarageBand (laughs); honestly, I don’t need anything more than that for the moment. As for the guitar tracks on Moonfall —both Bob’s and mine—they were recorded at Jo’s house, and I believe we used Cubase/Pro Tools.

How do you know when a song is finished?

That is the problem! (laughs) We absolutely have to call a halt on each song; otherwise, I can guarantee we’d still be adding details to them! When we listen back to the final result, we always have a bit of perspective and think, “we could have done this or that...” It’s endless, really! But the upside is that we never run out of ideas. Our solution is to let our friends and family—or our managers, Jeep and Laurent—hear the rough mixes. Given their experience, they have a very objective, spot-on perspective and really help us by saying, “Stop, guys—it’s great just the way it is!” and, as everyone knows, the perfect is the enemy of the good.

Can you walk us through your musical process as a band?

And every now and then, we set aside a weekend to get together—usually at Jo’s house—to discuss the tracks in progress, fine-tune them, and make further improvements... I’d say the real challenge is knowing when to stop. (laughs) I should also mention that we have some outstanding composers in the band—specifically Seb and David, who created the magnificent orchestrations featured on the album.

How much of your personal life makes it into your lyrics?

Personally, I don’t write the lyrics; that’s Jo, David, and Seb’s department, and all three of them are pretty good at it.

How do you handle creative block when it happens?

Fortunately, so far—knock on wood—we’ve never run into that kind of problem, because the creativity really comes from everyone, without exception. If one guitarist gets stuck on a riff, the other finds the solution, and vice versa. My alter ego, Bob Saliba, is a genius when it comes to melody and arrangements; Seb is a bottomless well of compositions; and David has had ideas up his sleeve since he was very young. I have to admit, we’ve been spared that issue so far.

What’s on your current playlist? Any song suggestions for our readers?

Right now, I’m listening to a bit of a mix of everything... There’s King Diamond, the latest Misanthrope, Testament, Annihilator... I couldn’t really say—it’s very eclectic.

What are some of the best moments of your career?

Undeniably, all the albums we’ve made since Wake Up Call—the record that marked the point when Seb, Bob, and I joined the project. But it goes beyond that; I’d also point to our commitment to the French heavy metal scene—not just promoting ourselves, but championing so many incredibly talented and deserving French bands. These are acts that even the biggest French festivals won’t deign to listen to or show the slightest interest in booking, which is such a shame. We keep fighting for this cause, and we hope that French metal will eventually earn the recognition and prestige it deserves.

If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Opening for legendary bands? Then obviously we’d be up for it! I’m thinking of Maiden, Priest, Halloween, Scorpions, and Symphony X—to name just a few, of course. I truly believe it’s every musician’s dream to be honoured like that—to have a legendary band choose you to open for them.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced early in your career?

I’d say joining the ranks of the Amore Brothers (laughs); as I said, I looked up to these musicians as idols when I was young, so playing with them is an honour and a privilege—a childhood dream come true, really... The only thing left now is to grace the stages of the biggest festivals, at least in Europe!

What’s been your most memorable show so far — good or bad?

For me, without a doubt, it’s our live performance with a symphony orchestra—Benjamin Garcia’s Mahlerian Camerata Orchestra —where we performed our previous album,Nova Atlantis, in its entirety. Having to rise to the occasion alongside so many highly skilled, experienced musicians was a real challenge—one that I think we met brilliantly!

What changes have you noticed in the music industry since the band began?

I’m not going to make any friends saying this (laughs), but I genuinely think the internet—and social media in particular—has killed music, bands, and the music industry. Nowadays, for a guy to take an interest in you, listen to your music, or want to book you for a gig, you have to be an influencer rather than a musician... People look at your follower count or online “views” to decide whether you’re any good, without ever actually making that judgment based on an objective, in-depth listen...

Personally, it drives me crazy (laughs); maybe I’ve just turned into a backward-looking old fart, but back in my day, we used to dream over posters, press articles, and music videos on TV!

If I’d only ever taken an interest in so-called “famous” or “popular” bands, I can guarantee you that the record collection I’ve built up over the years would be at least half the size!

This race for followers and digital clout, along with this new “core” generation, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, because music—no matter what anyone says—is in dangerous decline, making way for attention-seeking and all the eccentricities that come with it.

What part of the music business actually takes up most of your time?

The composition and the concept behind the theme... I leave everything else to the professionals—specifically our label, Rockshots Records—who do an excellent job for us.

What’s a stereotype about music or your genre that you’re tired of explaining?

It gets so exhausting that we don’t even bother explaining anymore! (laughs) But seriously, explaining that metal encompasses countless sub-genres is a challenge; for the uninitiated, there’s often a tendency to view metal as a monolith. Let me explain: a newcomer might listen to Slipknot—with its growling vocals, power, heavy and fast riffs, intensity, and aggression—and conclude, “so that’s what metal is!”

Consequently, they might view bands like KingCrown or Iron Maiden as mere savages screaming into their microphones and making noise... Not to mention all the long-standing prejudices associated with metal since its inception—which we won't list here... Yet, it is undeniable that the genre is becoming increasingly familiar and is now recognized as one of the most musically rich and widely listened-to genres in the world, boasting some of the best musicians.

What advice would you give to emerging musicians?

One piece of advice that has stayed with me since I was very young: never give up—despite the criticism, gratuitous insults, and mockery. Don't get discouraged; keep doing what you love, ignore the jealous and frustrated people around you, and have fun—enjoy getting together with friends and playing music!

Persevere; it’s important.

What upcoming releases, shows, projects, or collaborations should fans look forward to?

Not so fast! (laughs) We have a few little surprises up our sleeves for 2027, but we can't say anything yet! Just know that we’re already planning two dates in Italy for January. We’re obviously waiting for the release of Moonfall and will know more then—even though we’re eager to share news with you.

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

A huge thank you, Switching Styles, for this interview; I encourage all our readers and listeners to check out Moonfall and don't hesitate to spread the KingCrown virus to those around them!

Final thoughts from KingCrown

In this SwitchingStyles.ca interview, KingCrown guitarist Ced Legger discusses the band's origins, classic heavy/power metal influences, collaborative songwriting process, memorable performances, and 2026 album Moonfall. He also shares his perspective on social media's impact on the music industry, the importance of supporting France’s metal scene, and his advice for musicians determined to pursue their passion.

From their early days as KingCrown to their plans for the future, the band shares their story in their own words. Their answers offer a behind-the-scenes look at the experiences, influences, and creative habits that shape their work.

Follow them to hear what they do next.