Search - Supreme Majesty :: Tales of a Tragic Kingdom

The Tales of a Tragic Kingdom - Epic Melodic Metal

Mr D. | Cave Creek, Az United States | 09/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, it's been done before. Sonata Arctica's done it. Stratovarius has done it. So has Edguy, Freedom Call, Dragonland, Heavenly, Kamelot and numerous other bands. All of these bands have made a name for themselves in the Epic Power Metal fields. Well add Swedish band Supreme Majesty to the growing list of noteworthy Epic Power Metal bands.



Admittedly Supreme Majesty is not breaking any new ground here but they manage to cover old ground so well that it almost sounds new. In addition they do have some strong suits with good song writing and a reasonably good singer in Joakim Olsson and there are some real gems here such as "Towards the Northern Star", "Let It Go", "Queen of Egypt" and "Eye of the Storm"



KILLER CUTS



"TOWARDS THE NORTHERN STAR"

Lyrics by Daniel Andersson

Music by Chrille Andersson



"Seems like eternity

Since leaving my homestead behind

Now it comes back to me unwind

Crossing the wastes

God knows I've traveled afar

Following a vision of you, like a Northern Star"



Northern Star is a variable speed number that seems a little jerky and speedy at first but it has an incredibly catchy synchopated bridge in the middle. This is a song that will get your head banging if you're alive.



"LET IT GO"

Lyrics by Daniel Andersson

Music by Chrille Andersson



"Pain, remorse, regrets

You cry yourself to sleep

But know one can hear you weep

Pale and white of fear

Can't stand another day

You have to find another way"



No matter which style of rock music you prefer this song should appeal to you. It sounds more like a Pop hard rock song with a medium fast tempo, a melodic melody several hooks, nifty back up vocals by band members and Joakim's very pleasant vocals. Folks,this is just some plain old good R&R music!



"QUEEN OF EGYPT"

Lyrics by Daniel Andersson

Music by Chrille Andersson



"3000 years ago, in the land of Pharoh

Pharoh's first born child dies

Dies in the bloom of her life

High Priest they gather

To summon an evil spell

To bring back her soul,

But in darkness she will dwell"



This song features song truly excellent percussion as well as superb guitar work. Of course with a name like "Queen of Egypt it has portions with a Middle Eastern flavor. Again it's a variable tempo from medium to fast paced song.



"EYE OF THE STORM"

Lyrics by Joakim Olsson

Music by Joakim Olsson



"You are so different

You're two of a kind

I ain't got your knowlege

But hey, you don't got mine

You'd cross a big ocean

To get what you want

But here in the darkness

You don't know where you are"



Here we start out slow with an acoustic guitar accompanying Joakim and never get past a medium slow tempo through this very pleasant sounding power ballad. Another very accessible song. "Forever I'll Be", track 4, is also a nice ballad worth mentioning.



CONCLUSION



I like and appreciate good Epic Heroic Power Metal, however I am a little picky within the genre. Though they are superlative musicians on hyper fast bands such as Dragonforce and to a lesser degree, Rhapsody, I am drawn to bands that ply a slightly slower and variable tempo and Supreme Majesty fills that bill.



Supreme Majesty is a group with no apparent weaknesses but several strengths. Considering this is a debut album I am impressed with their technical proficiency and their songwriting. Even their lyrics have merit, though I'm not too fussy about lyrics.



This is a band with both a progressive feel and a top forty presence. The singer is good enough to be a major factor and the music is melodious and pleasant. I look for big things from this band in the near future.



Final rating 4.4 plus three tenths for a cool name and album title = 4.7 stars



Supreme Majesty Update: I took so long getting this review posted that S.M. has released a second album called Danger that is everything I expected and more and their third album is due out early next year.



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