Royal Hunt: Dystopia

Consequently, I’ve waited a very long time to actually sit down to admiringly listen and endure the material of a Royal Hunt record, however this is not what I was expecting at all from an elite with such a prolific name in the Prog Power universe and essentially this was a disappointment at any particular level of circumstance. Elegantly fronted by the experienced ex-Silent Force vocalist DC Cooper, the royalty hunters distribute some sufficient doses of Progressively-minded Melodic Metal along with a slight scattering of a satisfactory spillage of solidified compositions; steadily escorting an average basis of musicality and a number of tracks following suit with ‘a nothing new’ agenda whilst not gaining any additional branches of diversity for a Progressive offering.

Furthermore, the ongoing output delivered throughout the fifteenth effort from the Copenhagen based Dystopian assembly does just not hit the mark and just sounds sluggish at the best of times, even with the aspiring wishes of the established 2020 single ‘The Art of Dying’ that distinctively falls flat and it remarkably features the accomplished vocalised skills of the ex-Yngwie Malmsteen singer Mats Leven; not even seizing the resources needed to make this endeavour a likely winner in any shape or form and surprisingly the rigid firing of the vigorous opener ‘Burn’ does not have any essences of a lasting affect either apart from approximately less than a smothering handful of a reasonable receptable of standout hooks or phrases.

Unexpectedly named after a painting witnessed at a museum by founding member and keyboardist Andre Anderson, the determined Danes successfully convey a small mixture of episodes through the musical based eyes of the broadway-esque passages of the majestically distinguishing wavelengths of the heavenly spectacles of ‘I Used Walk Alone’, confidently highlighting the addition of the angelic voice of Alexandra Anderson and before entering the void of the gloriously-sublime closer of the leviathan taming presentation of ‘Snake Eyes’; delving deeper into a more superior chamber of composition and musicianship from the streaming red fiery eyes from the great profundities of oblivion, including the extravagant supplementary vocal expressions from ex-Iron Mask frontman Mark Boals, the soaring high ariticualtions from ex-Evil Masquerade sorcerer Henrick Brockmann and once again a warm-welcomed appearance from the lustrous talents of ex-Candlemass showman Mats Leven.

Comprehensively, the band’s contemporary benefaction ‘dystopia’ succeeds in some due respect wandering leisurely down various avenues of progression and in a divergent grasping of numerous diversified ways of tonality, nevertheless with a sizable calibre and back catalogue like Royal hunt are well known to have, I expected much more to be decidedly disappointed and totally let down as a complete whole. Conceivably, one day I will hopefully take the plunge and invest in a challenge of a complete exploration right into the entire arms of the discography of the Melodic Metal fabrication that is the stronghold of Royal Hunt and that will with an elevating rise from the conjuring spirit combined with an aspect of anticipation win me over for good.

Track list:
1. Inception F451
2. Burn
3. The Art of Dying
4. I Used to Walk Alone
5. The Eye of Oblivion
6. The Hound of The Damned
7. The Missing Page (Intermission I)
8. Black Butterflies
9. Snake Eyes
10. Midway (Intermission II)

Added: February 2nd 2021
Reviewer: James Mannion
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 891
Language: english

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