 |
|
October 12, 2008 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
BLACK MAJESTY - Silent Company
Limb Music (2005) |
5.5/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
01. Dragon Reborn
02. Silent Company
03. Six Ribbons
04. Firestorm
05. New Horizons
06. Darkened Room
07. Visionary
08. Never Surrender
09. A Better Way To Die
|
|
BLACK MAJESTY (Hanny Mohamed/guitars, Pavel Konvalinka/drums, John "Gio" Cavaliere/vox, Stevie Janevski/guitars, and...no bassist???) are newcomers in the apparently growing "Down Under Power Metal movement" following a trail to everlasting Valhallian glory blazed by the likes PEGAZUS many moons ago. And hey, I have to admit they're not bad either. In fact musically speaking they're pretty good. But unfortunately (man, I'm really getting to the point of it all early on these days aren't I?), when one's choice of Metal subgenre is as derivative and been-there-done-that as BLACK MAJESTY's take on the patented MANOWAR / HELLOWEEN / STRATOVARIUS / HAMMERFALL epic Power Metal template happens to be, then man...I just can't bring myself to really care. Sorry. This is, despite a high polish, one dull-bladed broadsword of an album.
On a technical/musical level, relative to their subgenre these guys are great. The followup to 2003's "Sands Of Time", sophomore effort "Silent Company" is chock full of all the expected Power Metal bells and whistles one would expect...which is exactly what's wrong with it. They have it all: the heroic, dual-guitar, hair-blowing-in-the-wind leadwork, the stratosphere-strafing, sword-held-high vocals, the big choruses...all stuff I like as a general rule, but also all stuff that has been done a million times before, often with the same basic riff patterns and melodies as about at least two-dozen European acts I can think of off the top of my head alone. I mean, if Metalcore is the home-base of all that is becoming tired and trite in the North American Metal scene, then Power Metal is inarguably its unidentical, frilly-lace-pirate-shirted, tight-leather-pantsed twin on the other side of the Atlantic...and apparently "Down Under" as well.
Some bands are really doing something with Power Metal and taking it into forward-thinking, even Progressive realms where it has grown, matured, and morphed into something wholly new and inspired. Examples? MERCENARY come to mind right off the bat. So do NEVERMORE, SYMPHONY X, MASTERPLAN, WINTERSUN, EDGUY, and even CHILDREN OF BODOM. There are more obviously, but those are again, immediate examples that come to mind when I think of Power Metal (or Power Metal-influenced) acts who are actively working to further the development of the form into bolder, more adventurous new territory. BLACK MAJESTY are at present nowhere near qualified to join that list.
Again, taken on their own merits the band are all very adept and accomplished at what they do. Cavaliere is an impressive vocalist with great range and tone. The arpeggio-bending duo of stringsmen-two Mohamed and Janevski are likewise more than capable of scaling their way up and down a fretboard and drummer Konvalinka holds down an impressive battery. Still though...so what? I really am sorry to say it as these are some first-rate musicians. Thing is though, the end product of their dungeons & dragons-plagued labours is far beyond trite, predictable, and anonymous. Considering how many bands there are out there just like them it's small wonder so many punters and rivetheads confess nothing more than boredom and indifference with the Power Metal form. A shame, that. As with any musical genre/subgenre the potential for growth within Power Metal is infinite. It's up to the bands to reach further creatively and realize this.
At present, BLACK MAJESTY have, despite a wealth of inherent talent chosen the path of expression most-mediocre. What a waste. Until they choose to strive towards greater ambition I can only respond in kind. G'day mates.
|
|
|
|
