Royal Hunt - 2006 Live

Published Nov. 24 2006

*=Staff's pick

CD 1:
Paper Blood*
Time
The Mission*
Never Give Up
Can't Let Go

Last Goodbye
Follow Me
Cold City Lights

CD 2:
Martial Arts
Surrender*
Running Wild*
Far Away

Lies
Wasted Time*
Message To God*
Epilogue
Long Way Home (Bonus Track)

Genre	Symphonic Metal	John West	Vocals
Tracks	17	Marcus Jidell	Guitar
Runningtime	99 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Frontiers Records	Per Schelander	Bass
Release	08 Dec. 2006	Kenneth Olsen	Drums
Country	Denmark/USA/Sweden	André Andersen	Keyboard
Similar artists	Evil Masquerade, Threshold, Space Odyssey

The Denmark based outfit Royal Hunt is back with another live album and this is a result of a DVD shoot which took place at St. Petersburg's Music Hall in 2005. This review focuses on the live CD since the DVD wasn't included in the promo package I received.

Royal Hunt has been releasing records since 1994 and their latest effort, entitled Paper Blood, was the eighth album so far in their career. The line up of the band has changed a couple of times along the way but the backbone and man in charge André Andersen has of course been a constant factor of the band through the years. The present vocalist John West has been a member for seven years and has by now finally filled the huge gap that his extraordinary predecessor left. The man I am talking about is of course D.C. Cooper (now active in Germany based Silent Force) and the effort he and the band made on the album Paradox (released 1997) is by the fans looked upon as Royal Hunt's prime time. However, with this live album, if not earlier, John West proves once and for all that he is THE vocalist of Royal Hunt, not just a replacement.

Even if this live album sounds suspiciously perfect without any faults whatsoever (studio overdubs, anyone?), the live feeling still is ever so present. You can during the entire concert sense the presence of the crowd and the album is perfectly mixed in that matter. Sometimes you actually get the feeling that you're in the front row rocking out and singing along to all the hits! Speaking of which, when it comes to the setlist I'm at loss for words. I have always more or less liked the lion part of what Royal Hunt has produced so far but when I listen to this live album the song writing skills of maestro André Andersen becomes even more impressing. They have succeeded in compiling a well balanced setlist with all their best songs and only a diehard collector of Royal Hunt could be arguing about songs that are missing here.

For those of you who never have heard Royal Hunt I would like to describe their musical direction as keyboard based, symphonic and melodic metal/hard rock with tiny progressive touches that is very catchy and performed extremely well. Melodic masterpieces such as Running Wild, Wasted Time and Message To God is brought back to life here in fantastic versions full of energy and receives the highest grade on my very own Hawk-scale. Despite the fact that this is a double album the high quality of the songs is constant from start to finish and that is an achievement on its own. Maybe the song structures are a bit to similar in the long run but that's about it on the negative side from me. If you are unfamiliar with the band, 2006 Live is the best introduction you can get. If you don't like what you hear you won't ever be a Hunter. This is a highly recommended release for everybody with a thirst for great melodies and virtuously musicianship.

See also review of: Paradox II: Collision Course , Paper Blood

Production	Vocals	Compositions
8,5	8,5	8,5

Summary
8,5 chalices of 10 - Hawk