Band:	Hercules
Album:	Waiting For The King
Style:	Epic heavy metal
Release date:	April 12, 2023
Guest review by:	MetalTrobadour

01. Waiting For The King II
02. Warlords Of The Sun Part I
03. Interlude
04. Warlords Of The Sun Part II
05. Masked Pirate
06. Golden Path
07. Dream Of The Golden Path
08. Warlords Of The Sun Part II [instrumental version]
09. The Past Flies Away

Chris Hercules - the one-man band passionate metalhead - can't stop producing original epic metal masterpieces. The amount of ideas and momentary epic riffs in such a small time frame is so unbelievably vast. This guy seems to have received such a huge gift from the Muses. His inspired music flows endlessly like the water of the spring of Helicon.

This time, he has made a dive into a romantic, dreamy and medieval world. It seems that this band has two sides - one more aggressive, primeval, and raw, and the other more noble, elegant and passionate.

The album begins with the self-titled track "Waiting For The King II", ("Waiting For The King I" being from "The Triumph Of True Metal: Part II"). Inside a world of darkness and decay, the world strives for the Son of the Sun. The King returns galloping on his horse on a triumphant mid tempo while ringing bells and choirs fill the air. He then has to make a trip to the Underworld to enliven the dead and grab the daughter of Demetre from Hades, bringing her back to the upperworld. The change to a dramatic faster tempo along with majestic solo fills is outstanding. At the end, the song returns to the slow tempo where it began, the King continuing to gallop as the epic melody flows in the air and ascends to the Sun.

"Warlords Of The Sun Part I and II" (separated by a small interlude with a fantastic operatic revealing melody) are the highlights of the album. The Army of the King enters the dark World of Thorns where demons abide to burn them with Light and save the world from chaos and darkness. The galloping riffs perfectly guide us to the atmosphere, feeling we are the Warlords taking a dark ride into danger and mystery with bravery and might. Here, Chris' vocals are quite raw and epic. The ride suddenly stops as we are about to take a view on the phantasmagoric world of Red Moon where bats fly around and dragons sleep. Here the vocals are dreamy. A clearing is seen on the road where Warlords will soon pass. They bring the Light as the world sleeps deep tonight. And yes here they come. We return back to the galloping riff with Chris' mighty screams and a very inspiring and kick-ass solo. "Warlords Part I" finished with the 'ambush', an amazing prog rock-like piece. The great driving melody of the clean guitar make drums useless. The Sun stood still, I can't see anything but light. Light here and there, light is everywhere. Chris here shows his great inspiration from progressive rock bands. Some vocal lines remind also of Ronnie James Dio. The solo is dreamy and the energy unstoppable. He can give you rhythm just with a guitar and voice.

"Warlords Part II" begins with a haunting ballad about a crying dragon locked and imprisoned for years. The riff really makes you sink to melancholy here, the atmosphere is very unique. "Time" is the next piece, melancholy gives space to hope. Great choir, outstanding melodic solos and again passionate singing. "We pass the Gate of Sun" is my favorite line, you really feel the ascension. We perfectly move to the next piece "Final Battle". Warlords of the Sun leading thousands souls of warriors and dragons to revolt. The Final Battle with the Beast is about to happen as they encircle the last part of the dark Land of Thorns. Another great parading and galloping riff here with a really fantastic solo. The Beast is slayed forever. Now Warlords' journey ends and they are about to return to the Sun. The tempo changes into a fast dramatic galloping and vocals fill the drama. Warlords disappearing in fog as Mercury grabs them to the highest halls through thunders and storms. An amazing concept.

The album continues with "Masked Pirate". The organ intro is great. The riffs here are pure renessaince music. I can also feel a great Queen vibe here, such as on "Great King Rat". The guitar solo is probably the best of the album. The Masked Pirate is back and has taken control, destroying the army of the elite bankers.

"Golden Path" is basically the last song featuring vocals, before the last 3 instrumentals. What a perfect way to end the amazing journey of this album. This seems to be the most inspired song of the record. The melodies of this 10-minute masterpiece are top notch. One of the most dreamy epic songs written ever. The song begins and ends in a mystic ballad way and most of the rest of the song is mid-paced galloping in search of the Golden Path. After the outstanding solo ends, the song pauses and bursts into the most deep utopic riffs humanity has witnessed. It's like you enter the highest realms of the world.

"Dream Of The Golden Path" is an improvisation of this amazing epic conception. Chris here plays without a metronome, and without thought and preparation. A real live instant inspiration, a direct communication with the Muses.

"Warlords Of The Sun Part II" instrumental has really touching guitar melodies, and the guitar solo reverb here is perfect. He has really captured the sound for the theme perfectly here.

The album ends with a melancholic (but also bright in instances) instrumental called "The Past Flies Away". The melodies here are taken from "We'll Meet Again (Hercules And Eve)", the last song featured on Hercules' Legend Of Metal album. Impressive sad riffs and an interesting breakout in the middle with a brass melody reminding of Morricone's Spaghetti Western numbers.

Thumbs up for the efforts of Hercules, working to produce such high-quality music touching our souls through times of decay. The music is so awesome that it can really cover the drawbacks of lower-quality production.

Hope the band continues in this style producing another similar dreamy masterpiece.

Bow to the King Hercules.