Tag: royal hunt (Page 1 of 2)

This is the latest release from Royal Hunt that came out in 2022. It’s also studio album number 17. For a band to be going for 17 albums is remarkable, especially when most of that has been off the radar for most of the world.

I was a lover of early Royal Hunt, especially Moving Target and Paradox, two classic DC Cooper albums. I’m pleased he is back in the band, although that was a few albums ago. The additional vocalists on this record is confusing as Mark Boals, Matt’s Leven, and Henrick Brockman take leads on different tracks, although it’s hard to tell which ones.

Yes, it’s a concept record. It concludes here with part 2, and I think I read somewhere that it’s based on Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. It’s the usual Royal Hunt fare: lots of symphonic moments with keyboards being the main carrier of the song melodies, although this album feels a tad heavier with the guitars being quite prominent.

There are a couple of instrumental pieces that just about steal favourite track status, namely The Purge and Hit and Run with duelling keys and guitars, but I love the interplay and melody of The Key Of Insanity. A great track with the band at their symphonic best. Sometimes when they keep it simple like on One More Shot, you can see another career for them as a melodic rock band.

Lots to keep the listener entertained for many many spins.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

Album number ten from these Danish Progressive metallers, although they do have a very Classic Rock element in what they do. This album is a follow up conceptually to album four, Paradox where the same themes are revisited.

Opener and introductory piece Principles Of Paradox is a gargantuan keyboard extravaganza that brings the epic atmosphere to the proceedings. The First Rock has Mark Boals stretching his larynx to reach notes that only Yngwie visits. Seriously though, it’s a killer track with all the pomp and Prog you would expect with a pounding groove all the way through.

The words Rock and Opera keep entering my mind while listening. I actually think this would be killer if performed in that way. Every song has a touch of the epic and grandiose about them. It’s quite hard to pick a favourite as they all feel as though they are building to an ending. but I’m going for the thunderous Divide And Reign. Alan Sorensen is pounding away at that kit as though his life depended on it. Maximum metal pounding and guitars are wailing to match. I can only describe this as majestic.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

This is Royal Hunt’s fifth album and the first to feature John West on vocals, it was released back in ’99. Keyboardist and leader Andre Anderson wrote everything on the album, and there is a big keyboard presence as there is with the majority of the band’s albums. It’s only seven tracks, but boy do they fit a lot into them.

The album kicks off with the title track and a majestic intro sequence that leads into an epic tune. West has such control over that huge voice, from soft cleans to max overdrive. Killer opening! Faces Of War follows, it opens with a great bass line with some killer keyboard and guitar riffage, and double kicks pounding underneath, definitely my favourite. It has huge classical vibes, and that word epic comes to mind again. Cold City Lights is the most accessible track on the album. It’s a very commercial sounding melody with a killer hook and chorus.

Side 2 kicks in with the fat huge riff of Lies and the accompanying classical intro to go with it. That choppy guitar in the verse gives me huge Saga vibes, but this is euro metal at its finest. Monster ballad time next with Follow Me, emphasis on the monster. Voices follows and again, it’s an another huge majestic intro with the keys set to orchestra mode. Killer harmonies! Onto the last track: Sea Of Time. Superb echo and repeat guitar intro, I love the vocal harmonies.

Really good record!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Another superb reissue from the Night Of The Vinyl Dead label, their quality is top notch. This time it’s the second album from Denmark’s finest, Royal Hunt. I have mentioned before the amount of Euro bands that don’t mean a whole bunch in North America, and Royal Hunt are definitely are one of them. They are classed as progressive metal but they lean way more to the melodic side and come across as a heavier Kansas, well on this album anyway. The band revolves around main man and keyboard maestro Andre Andersen, and the majority of the songs are driven by the keys.

A huge pomp intro starts off the album in a very grandiose way that leads into opener Wasted Time, a great and very melodic track. On The Run mixes the pomp of the keys with an over the top operatic harmonies, and the double kicks driving all the way. Definitely my favourite track. Third Stage reminds me of Yngwie with huge classical overtones. Here Today Gone Tomorrow starts off at a killer pace and grooves hard.

They would change vocalists after this album, bringing in the great DC Cooper and I can see why as Henrik Brockmann’s vocals are the weak link on the album. Great music though!

8/10 from The Grooveman.