Post Description

Royal Hunt - Collision Course… Paradox 2 (2008)
 | MP3@320 ~115 Mb | BOOKLET (600 dpi) ~37 Mb
10 tracks | 51:39 | Genre: Progressive metal


“Royal Hunt - Collision Course

A little bit off course more than anything

Sometimes, an album will be released that sets a benchmark for a band; case in point Royal Hunt’s Paradox which was released in 1997. Now, 11 years later with a new vocalist in tow (ex Ring Of Fire, Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist Mark Boals), the group are continuing the saga with Paradox II: Collision Course. Sequels are hit and miss at the best of times – regardless of their place within a band’s discography, and with Collision Course, it is more of a miss than a hit.

The opening cut, Principles Of Paradox, ushers in the band’s ninth album of keyboard heavy prog rock, and from this point on, it all gets kind of blurry. The forced high vocals that appear occasionally in The First Rock don’t work at all although for the most part, Boals’ work behind the mic is first rate. Like most of the tracks here, the lead work is plentiful and tight enough and at times, the highlight. The continual segue between tracks blurs their identity with the keyboard heavy Exit Wound and the quicker Divide And Reign falling into this trap as well. The “ballad” – if you could call it that – is the atrocious High Noon At The Battlefield which almost starts with a country tinged vibe before turning into some hard rock ballad that brings nothing to the table.

Hard rocker The Clan shines and stands proud thanks to its biting attitude and aggro shown throughout whilst Blood In Blood Out is strong enough making the most of contrasting dynamics along the way. It is business as usual with Tears Of The Sun offering nothing new or ground breaking at this point and Hostile Breed feeling generally uninspired before Chaos A.C. finally winds the album up.

Point blank, like many a sequel or attempt to recapture the past, falls short. The magic isn’t quite there. It’s not the change of personnel as Boals is more than able. The album doesn’t feel forced as such either. But whatever that magical ingredient is, Collision Course is lacking it. Royal Hunt fans will enjoy this more if they don’t put too high of an expectation on it.”

Tracklist:

01. Principles of paradox [5:42]
02. The first rock [4:47]
03. Exit wound [6:29]
04. Divide and reign [5:25]
05. High noon at the battlefield [3:57]
06. The clan [4:39]
07. Blood in blood out [6:04]
08. Tears of the Sun [6:00]
09. Hostile breed [5:07]
10. Chaos A.C. [3:25]

Personnel:

Andre Andersen – keyboards and guitar
Mark Boals – vocals
Marcus Jidell – guitars
Allan Sorensen – drums
Per Schelander – bass

Guests:

Kenny Lubcke – backing vocals
Maria McTurk – backing vocals
Ian Perry - backing vocals
Doogie White - backing vocals
Henrik Brockmann - backing vocals
Soma Allpass - backing vocals, cello
Michelle Raitzin - backing vocals
Patricia Skovgaard - violin
Erik Rosenqvist - woodwinds, accordion