Royal Hunt - X

Got this album last month here in Tokyo, here are my thoughts.

I edited this a lot. My last review was biased as hell I'm sorry for that. here it is..

The Royal Hunt I love is from the Fear / The Mission era, as well as Paper Blood. If you were hoping for a return to those roots or an expansion on the neoclassicl elements you may be dissapointed with this album. This album is a good 70s rock/metal style album. Many of the songs remind me of Ayreon or something. It's actually a damn awesome album, just not the old Royal Hunt but rather a further departure from it.

The album is tight and well produced, but the keyboard is no longer Capcom style powermetal, its more like piano and its no longer a main point of the band.

With this album I think the band actually achieved everything they wanted to. It is an appropriate evolution from the last album, and I am sure if you loved that album you will love this one, probably even more. This is the new band solidified.

Highlights are "Blood Red Stars", which has some cool keys on there and an Ayreon feel to the choruses.
Also "Last Leaf" which is a beautiful balad.
Almost ever song on here is pretty solid and cool though. There's not much missing from this album as long as you know what your getting into.

To sum this up,

The album will be really enjoyed by those who liked Paradox 2, this is great 70s style heavy metal. It's a kick ass album in that vein and everyone somewhat interested should get it.
but for those who liked the old royal hunt and paper blood's neoclassical and progressive elemends, this won't be of much interest to you. That's it, a really fun and well done album and I imagine people will love it.

Paradox II fans should be excited for this, its awesome, just not old royal hunt.

Thanks for letting me know. I really liked Paradox II, so it should be good for me XP

Wes, change the release date, you are scaring people
Album - is totally the same with CC... First time Royal Hunt did this - 2 of similar albums.... eh

But anyway - it is still mutch more berrer and clouther for me then any of another bands

Edited my mini review because I was being biased as hell and just stupid.

This album is amazing, it's freaking badass, its just not the old Royal Hunt, it's completely different.

I was hoping for something more neoclassical, but this is a perfect 70s style metal album, awesome album : )

My own little thoughts adding to Wes's
Wes keeps mentioning 70s, but the album doesn't sound out dated. It's also still got that progressiveness and the keys are indeed beautiful. I do agree it has a certain hard rock feel to it and I think "Army Of Slaves" illustrates it extremely well
Another thing is that he keeps mentioning Ayreon, but it's by no means a rip-off.

Awsome album, i really enjoy it listening !!!!! very refreshing

"X" - has been released on vinyl: same quality as "Paradox" - heavy vinyl with the colour insert - but this time also as a gatefold. Limited edition (hand numbered copies). Order here: www.hho-records.de www.nuclearblast.de www.millenium-records.nl or contact the manufacturer: : http://nightofthevinyldead.com

This album is pure masterpiece from start to finish !!!

I was not fond of this one last time I heard it but today I found the entire record to be a real treat! I love how songwriting feels very 70's without sounding like a gimmik which in most cases it does. I usually have a slight distaste in neo-classical metal and often I found Royal Hunt to lean too much into it but here's it's just the perfect amount.

This is an amazing album. It's original in a way and Mark's vocals sound amazing so does the music. One of their best and I will write some of my top picks: "Shadowman" "End Of The Line" "The Last Leaf" and the rest are pretty good with the exception of "Back To Square One" which is a little boring.