Royal Hunt, return with their 16th studio album, and the second part of “Dystopia”… “Dystopia – Part II”. The album features guest appearances from Mats Leven (TSO, Skyblood, Vandenberg), Mark Boals (Y.J. Malmsteen, Ring of Fire, Royal Hunt), Henrik Brockman (Royal Hunt, Evil Masquerade, N’Tribe), Kenny Lubcke (Narita, Zoser Mez) and Alexandra Andersen (Royal Hunt, JSP). The album’s concept is based on Ray Bradbury’s classic novel “Fahrenheit 451”, and is the second and last part of the “Dystopia” concept.
“Dystopia – Part II” is a continuation of the band’s previous release, blending symphonic metal and power metal with some prog elements. The sound of the band remains unchanged… some might say they play it safe, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, Royal Hunt have their trademark sound that sets them apart from other bands in the genre.
André Andersen, the band’s mastermind, songwriter, and keyboardist, has once again provided a tight and clear production, as well as some really strong melodies and orchestrations. It goes without saying that D.C. Cooper’s vocal performances are nothing short of remarkable. His distinct voice adds an extra layer of depth to the songs, elevating them to a whole new level.
“Dystopia – Part II” is comparable to Royal Hunt’s prior work, albeit the final outcome is more cohesive this time. Nevertheless, “Part 2” is not better than “Part 1” in my opinion, but that’s not an issue at all, cuz the album as a whole is still highly enjoyable. It will definitely satisfy the band’s fans.
