Tag: royal hunt

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.

This is Royal Hunt’s ninth studio album, released back in 2005. They have released seventeen studio albums overall: six live albums and various compilations and singles, but yet they remain virtually unknown out of mainland Europe. North America doesn’t seem to care and that to me is insanity. I would think their brand of prog/power metal would be lapped up, especially with the success of Trans Siberian Orchestra. The band was formed in ’89 by keyboardist and main man Andre Anderson, but is was three years later in ’92 that they released their debut album Land Of Broken Hearts.

Break Your Chains kicks things off with the sound of an orchestra tuning up before the epic keyboard intro bursts into a monster of an opening with pounding drums, searing vocals, and harmonies with maximum riffage on guitar. Phew!!! Not My Kind follows with a nod to Yes with the initial harmonies, then the heavy riff takes over with some epic soloing. Memory is instrumental number one with keyboards taking the main focus. Loving the Hammond at the intro to Never Give Up then the double kicks take over. Superb vocals and harmonies! A very different groove to Seven Days. Slowing the pace down somewhat, a very welcome change in pace. SK 983 is instrumental number two, and the pedal is fast down for this one. Kiss Of Faith is a hands-in-the-air anthemic beast. Paper Blood is next, and it has THAT riff. At least it’s in what context they use it that matters, and the main hook and melody are really cool. Seasons Change is the big power ballad on the album and the solo from Marcus Jidell is huge. Saving the best till last with close out track Twice Around The World. Huge fat riff, big keys, lots highs and lows, awesome solo, and incredible vocals. Superb ending to a great record. Half a point lost for that riff though.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.