Last year I described Liv Kristine's fifth solo album Vervain as, "one of those albums which can't be reviewed in a short space of time due to its multi-layered depths so you may have to check back for a definitive score in a few months." I'm going to wimp out again and say something very similar about King of Kings. Why is that? I think that unlike many of their female-fronted, symphonic contemporaries Leaves' Eyes shy away from the overtly commercial – there are no incongruous appearances from rappers to be found here – I know that will please certain members of the SoT staff!
The band's people describe that album thus, "as if film score composers Hans Zimmer and Richard Wagner themselves had collaborated on a soundtrack about the life of Norway's first king with amazing results." They go onto describe the title track as, "epic," which it certainly is reminding me of Sarah Brightman's fabulous "Fleur Du Mal" which I have long considered to be one of the best metal tracks ever produced by a non-metal act. Produced by the band's Alexander Krull King of Kings is bombastic yet heartfelt, over-the-top yet mellow when required and features some of the group's best ever material such as the duet with the always excellent Simone Simons from Epica on "Edge of Steel" or the Nightwishy "Vengeance Venom". It's the middle of the album which also features "Sacred Vow" which is the strongest part of the section but this is, I'd suggest the most cohesive effort yet from this band.
I've always been able to take or leave Leave's Eyes but now I'm firmly able to take them!
Track Listing: 01. Sweven
02. King Of Kings
03. Halvdan The Black
04. The Waking Eye
05. Feast Of The Year
06. Vengeance Venom
07. Sacred Vow
08. Edge Of Steel
09. Haraldskvæði
10. Blazing Waters
11. Swords In Rock
Added: September 1st 2015 Reviewer:Simon Bray Score: Related Link:Band Website Hits: 2125 Language: english
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Last year I described Liv Kristine's fifth solo album Vervain as, "one of those albums which can't be reviewed in a short space of time due to its multi-layered depths so you may have to check back for a definitive score in a few months." I'm going to wimp out again and say something very similar about King of Kings. Why is that? I think that unlike many of their female-fronted, symphonic contemporaries Leaves' Eyes shy away from the overtly commercial – there are no incongruous appearances from rappers to be found here – I know that will please certain members of the SoT staff!
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