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Black Majesty - Biography


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Biography

They say the second album is always a huge test for any band worth their salt and Australian Melodic Metal outfit Black Majesty have met the challenge with remarkable results.

Don't be fooled by the title "Silent Company" Black Majesty's highly anticipated second album is as loud and in your face continuing on squarely where their critically acclaimed debut 'Sands of Time' album left off. While Sands of Time was respected as a best seller for German Power Metal Supremo label 'Limb Music Products' Black Majesty have well and truly arrived with the new "Silent Company" opus taking broad classic-metal influences, melodic diversity and wide eyed vision to create a no holes barred yet refreshing and intoxicating metal masterpiece.

Hotly tipped by many on the world metal scene to be the next Australian metal band to make its mark on Europe Black Majesty made waves all over the world with excellent reviews in premier metal magazines (Rock Hard, Heavy Oder was!, Metal Hammer, Burrn & Kerrang!) with inclusion to Germany's Rock Hard Dynamit compilation cd - all helping to endorse the band to the metal masses. The 2003 Sands of Time was also highlighted in many magazine scribe's top ten albums of the year with the album reaching number 3 on the Japanese Burnn Magazine Heavy Metal charts.

2005 sees Black Majesty make a welcome return to the world stage with the release of Silent Company. Trekking from Australia to Germany to work with Iron Savior main man Piet Sielck the band put down drums at K.A.R.O studios, home of many other metal recordings including Saxon, Wizard, Paragon and Iron Savior. The band eventually went on to complete the album in Australia with Endel Rivers who also produced the band's debut album. Guitarist Stevie Janevski describes Silent Company as "a progression from the first album. We got to work with two first class producers and I think you can really hear it come through on the album. We are really looking forward to touring this album and bringing it to a wider audience". Frontman and mega voice John Cavaliere goes onto say "lyrically the band touched on the spiritual world with the album title Silent Company taking its name with the idea of spiritual powers and the feeling of company watching over our every move". Silent Company also sees the band pay tribute to its home land and interpret a classic Australian song titled Six Ribbons originally a huge hit for singer songwriter Jon English in 1978. With acoustic and Celtic overtones the track is a standout metalized ballad with John Cavaleire passionately singing the duet with the guesting beautiful voice of Susie Goritchan.

Black Majesty continue to demonstrate some extraordinary musicianship with vocalist John Cavaliere again no doubt one of the highlights. Whether it be the Coverdale like lower tones or Dickinson influenced highs Cavaliere sings with passion and mood - a clear standout being the title track Silent Company. The singer very much respected as a powerhouse in the on the Australian metal scene has already lent his voice to fellow Aussie bands Vanishing Point and Eyefear on recent recordings - once again displaying the comradery and support within the Australian scene.

A strong draw card on the live scene Black Majesty's guitarist's Stevie Janevski and Hanny Mohamed have also attracted the attention of musical instrument companies such as Jackson Guitars, Hughes & Kettner Amplification, and Dean Markley strings with endorsements further demonstrating the high quality musicianship - with Australian Guitar Magazine describing the band as one of the brightest metal talents to come from down under.

The band rhythm section is rounded out by ex Taramis bass player Evan Harris and Pavel Konvalinka who's hammer like double kick provides the continued machine gun like pulse giving more than a metal heart to the group.

Proudly wearing their influences on their sleeves Black Majesty are inspired to play the style of metal they are most passionate about. Old school is something that does not bother the band. Respectful of the music and bands they grew up on and still appreciate as metal-heads today. Coming from Australia which for the most has not been recognized as a heavy metal country makes it all the more interesting with influences ranging from European and US metal while also incorporating the band's own Australian heritage.

"It was never hip to listen to metal here. It was definitely underground but we still grew up listening to classics such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Queensryche to name just a few. I certainly was into it in a big way and the whole band still are. We're all fans of metal make no mistake about that. Everything from the bands, the live shows and also the imagery. For us the music is so powerful that it is also reflected in the band's album covers. It kind of goes together. The whole metal concept is something special. It's all part of the package", explains guitarist Hanny. Art work on the new Black Majesty album is again handled by Dirk Illing (Wizard, Paragon) which brings back the art style of the yesteryear.

Black Majesty has just completed a whirlwind promo tour of Europe playing festivals such as Germany's Headbangers Open Air 2005 and Chech Republic's mini fest supporting Edguy and Hammerfall.