Thy Majestie - Hastings 1066

[Kailef]

This is my very favorite album.  Besides being very well made power metal, they have an outstanding symphonic sound.  Backed by a choir that isn't just "stuck in there for good measure", but actually skillfully worked into the compositions, this is some of the best music I've ever heard.  Complex without being gaudy, powerful without being just a wall of noise.  Takes a few listens before you get used to it, though - I didn't really like it much the first time I heard it, so give it a chance.

I rate it 9.5 out of 10.

My favorite tracks are:

Scream of Tallifer
The King and the Warrior
Pride of the Housecarl
Demons on the Crown

[Sebastien]

  yes, I completely agree, the first time I heard I was like " wtf have they done ? they suck now  " but it really takes a lot of listening to find out that they are really good, songs are extremely well structured.

[Creed]

I agree with your assessment here, Mr. K.  I'd give it a 10, but Incipit Bellum (?) is rather distracting.  Skilled, yes, quite skilled.  But pick a rhythm and stick to it!  

But that's one of only a VERY few flaws I can find with the CD.  It's amazingly good.  Perhaps that's why Pride of Housecarl is #3 on the Top Ten Requests.  

CREED

[Darkstar]

Album of the week?  How about album of the month?

Yes, I like it a lot.

/approved by the council of Darkstar's

[Kailef]

Yes!  Thy Majestie rocks.  Their songs on Hastings 1066 are *SO* well put together.  Quite honestly I don't know of a metal band that has more complex orchestration, period.  And they pull it off perfectly - Not the slightest hint of a musical mistake anywhere on the album despite my having listened to it almost every day since the album came out!

[Darkstar]

With my musical (sort of) background, I really dig on the orchestrated parts.  Sometimes I fly into fits of involuntary headbanging.