THY MAJESTIE „Hastings 1066”

Genre: Epic Power Metal

Wow! On the first listen I was blown away. Epic power metal performed in an excellent manner with crystal clear production, mighty “Carmina Burana”-sque background choir signing, beautiful occasional female vocals and not so good male singer, hymnic melodies and multilayered arrangements. Noticeably, much money has been invested in making Thy Majestie's second album titled “Hastings 1066”. Their debut “The Lasting Power” was an interesting piece of music containing few real songs and many short tracks that were actually medieval interludes bringing the feel of a renaissance fair. The critics labeled Thy Majestie as another Rhapsody clone. On “Hastings 1066” their sound has changed, but, unfortunately, it resembles the before mentioned great band even more. The good news is that there is finally a band that can play “Rhapsody-metal” as well as its creators. Tracks are very well written, with several musical themes changing, often long medieval intros, nice guitar solos, almost progressive keyboards solos. The best part is heavy utilization of choir which is FANTASTIC (somebody was carefully listening to Carl Orff) enchancing the music, giving it special “battle” feeling. I'm probably giving this album such good review because I'm hypnotized by the beauty of this “stream” of voices. The second listening to it reveals the common downside in the genre: as always, it is originality. I don't know if there is a fresh and new way to do such music, after ten thousand bands in the scene today. But if it is done with great passion and care for details in the soundscape (background keys, rhythm, choir singing, sound layers, epic effect) as it is the case here, I don't mind. Debut album maybe had a more personal touch with those instrumental interludes, but on this album there is only four of them (tracks III,VII,IX and XI titled after their position in the tracklist) and they don't sound authentic and nostalgic as before. However, it is compensated by the increased complexity of other tracks. Another flaw would be (but maybe not in everybody's opinion) the main singer of the band. His voice (thankfully, not another would-be-castrate singing so many singers tend to do) and technique, although better than in most bands in this genre I heard, isn't good enough to match the grandeur of the choir, and certainly not on Fabio Leone's level. It could easily just be the effect of the magnificence of the music on this album.

The power metal lyrics are often the true bleeding wound, killing the whole concept and glamour of the music with childish poetry, since being a great inger doesn't imply being a talented writer. The center point of this album is the Battle of Hastings in (obviously) 1066. Unfortunately, as a non-UK resident I know too little of british history to judge about the autheticity and scientific/romantic aproach to the subject. Therefore, I leave you an URL where you can read the lyrics before buying the album, if it means much to you: http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/thymajestie/hastings1066.html All of the “non-interlude” tracks are of the same quality and finding one (or more) that is the highlight of the album is the matter of personal choice.

The conclusion: This is EXCELLENT epic power metal album, a must have for the admirers of the genre (with this release I would rang Thy Majestie third best band in terms of production, songwriting and technique after Blind Guardian and Rhapsody). If you love Rhapsody, get this, it is as good. If you also love Logar's Diary, Darkmoor, Domine, Elvenking and similar bands, get this – it is much better.

note: 9/10

Tracklist

1. Rerum Memoria 3:00
2. The King And The Warrior 3:26
3. III 0:45
4. Echoes Of War 5:56
5. The Sight Of Telham Hill 5:52
6. Incipit Bellum 1:46
7. VII 1:15
8. The Scream Of Taillefer 7:30
9. IX 1:05
10. Anger Of Fate 7:12
11. XI 0:47
12. The Pride Of HouseCarl 7:20
13. Through The Bridge Of Spears 3:48
14. Demons On The Crown 5:50.

Total Disc Time 55:32