Abstract symphony --- Majestic --- 1999 (Massacre)
This is, well, weird! Starts off all classical and prog, then kicks into a mad metal vibe! Debut album of only two released by Majestic, there's some great keyboard work here, no doubt of that. Progressive power metal? Vocalist Apollo Thanasio certainly has a good voice, while Richard Andersson is something of a wizard on the keys. Meanwhile, Magnus Nordh lets loose on the guitar, and the sound comes together really quite well.
Opener "Golden sea" sets the scene: fast, loud, powerful but with great melody, while "Losers shades of Hell" is far more guitar-led, with a really nice ballad in "Standing alone", showcasing Thanasio's powerful vocals.
Hard to understand why these guys weren't more successful. Their songs are certainly catchy, with just the right amount of metal and prog to appeal to both sets of fans. Yet they only put out two albums before splitting in 2001. Wonder why?
Great keyboard work from Andersson on both "Crimson sun" and "Ceasefire", and the whole band just go crazy on penultimate track "Nitro pitbull", while closer "Seekers battlefield" is the first time they really slow down, throwing in a bit of AOR to round things off.
Like the name says, majestic.
TRACKLISTING
1. Golden sea
2. Losers shades of Hell
3. Standing alone
4. Silence
5. Crimson sun
6. Ceasefire
7. Black moon rising
8. Blood of the tail
9. Shadows from beyond
10. Nitro pitbull
11. Seekers battlefield