By: Anders

Posted: Nov 28, 2005

This is the first album based upon the short-story "Dawnrider", written by Majesty mastermind Tarek Maghary, just as Majesty's first album "Sword & Sorcery" was built upon a story written by him. This is a new story, but with some of the same characters as in "Sword & Sorcery", though on this album he has gotten help from an impressive bunch of musicians and vocalists. People as Rob Rock, James Rivera, Ross The Boss, Marc Shelton and so forth appears on here.

Epic heavy metal compositions are what we are presented for on this album. All from straight ahead bashers, to more bombastic and epic pieces are here, good riffs here and there, some good leads and solos are present as well. The compositions are pretty standard for what we can expect of a heavy metal album anno 2005, and that's quite a shame. It seems like Maghary has written a good and interesting story, even though I haven't read it. But often it is like the music isn't coming entirely through and leaves an everlasting impact. That could perhaps change, when the story behind the album, has been read, due to it will be easier to relate to the different elements.

On the musical side, there aren't many fingers to put on the release, there are a lot of great music delivered on this disc, not a single doubt about that. Though at times, as in for an example the titletrack, the keyboards are rather weak sounding and ruins more than good is. The drum sound does also sound a bit too processed at times, and sloppy at others. But besides that the sound is good, the guitars are powerful, the vocals are well placed, and the mix works well too.

As written, musically the album is very good, vocally as well, there are delivered some really good vocal performances on here. Though the compositions fail once in a while, they are too weak and standard to keep the attention all the way through. There are some really good tracks on the album, though also some which seems like fillers. But it is a good start for this project, and with some more focus, it'll might turn out really well in time, if you're into complex concept albums, do check this one out, you might like it, and I'm sure the music will get a lift, when reading the story behind this album, while hearing it.

Rating: 6½/10

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