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Royal Hunt - X



7.4 | 58 votes |
Release date: 21 January 2010
Style: Symphonic power metal

Owners:

53 have it
5 want it


01. Episode X (Arrival)
02. End Of The Line
03. King For A Day
04. The Well
05. Army Of Slaves
06. Shadowman
07. Back To Square One
08. Blood Red Stars
09. The Last Leaf
10. Falling Down
11. Episode X (Departure)
12. Sixth Sense [European bonus]

Guest review by
andreosokin
Rating:
9.0
If you want something in the vein of early Deep Purple, Uriah Heep or Genesis - and all this with a modern sound, you just have to buy this new Royal Hunt album, entitled X!

This is the band's tenth full-length album, and I'd say, the most experimental one. They used old synthesizers, organs, guitars, amps and even drums! Also, they've changed their usual mixing studio "Medley Studio" (where almost all albums were mixed) to legendary "Puk Studio" - a place where a lot of worldwide-famous musicians have recorded. All this to recreate that "70s atmosphere," about which the band wrote in their first studio blog entries. I think they made it work.

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published 31.05.2010 | Comments (1)

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Comments

Comments: 11   Visited by: 132 users
26.01.2010 - 07:13
Rating: 6
Wes

Got this album last month here in Tokyo, here are my thoughts.

I edited this a lot. My last review was biased as hell I'm sorry for that. here it is..

The Royal Hunt I love is from the Fear / The Mission era, as well as Paper Blood. If you were hoping for a return to those roots or an expansion on the neoclassicl elements you may be dissapointed with this album. This album is a good 70s rock/metal style album. Many of the songs remind me of Ayreon or something. It's actually a damn awesome album, just not the old Royal Hunt but rather a further departure from it.

The album is tight and well produced, but the keyboard is no longer Capcom style powermetal, its more like piano and its no longer a main point of the band.

With this album I think the band actually achieved everything they wanted to. It is an appropriate evolution from the last album, and I am sure if you loved that album you will love this one, probably even more. This is the new band solidified.

Highlights are "Blood Red Stars", which has some cool keys on there and an Ayreon feel to the choruses.
Also "Last Leaf" which is a beautiful balad.
Almost ever song on here is pretty solid and cool though. There's not much missing from this album as long as you know what your getting into.

To sum this up,

The album will be really enjoyed by those who liked Paradox 2, this is great 70s style heavy metal. It's a kick ass album in that vein and everyone somewhat interested should get it.
but for those who liked the old royal hunt and paper blood's neoclassical and progressive elemends, this won't be of much interest to you. That's it, a really fun and well done album and I imagine people will love it.

Paradox II fans should be excited for this, its awesome, just not old royal hunt.
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26.01.2010 - 20:46
Rating: 9
Ag Fox
Angel No More
Thanks for letting me know. I really liked Paradox II, so it should be good for me XP
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loves 小巫
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27.01.2010 - 21:43
Slovenija

Wes, change the release date, you are scaring people
Album - is totally the same with CC... First time Royal Hunt did this - 2 of similar albums.... eh
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27.01.2010 - 21:44
Slovenija

But anyway - it is still mutch more berrer and clouther for me then any of another bands
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28.01.2010 - 07:59
Rating: 6
Wes

Edited my mini review because I was being biased as hell and just stupid.

This album is amazing, it's freaking badass, its just not the old Royal Hunt, it's completely different.

I was hoping for something more neoclassical, but this is a perfect 70s style metal album, awesome album : )
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05.02.2010 - 14:43
Rating: 9
Ag Fox
Angel No More
My own little thoughts adding to Wes's
Wes keeps mentioning 70s, but the album doesn't sound out dated. It's also still got that progressiveness and the keys are indeed beautiful. I do agree it has a certain hard rock feel to it and I think "Army Of Slaves" illustrates it extremely well
Another thing is that he keeps mentioning Ayreon, but it's by no means a rip-off.
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loves 小巫
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10.02.2011 - 23:48
Rating: 10
Yugosaki

Awsome album, i really enjoy it listening !!!!! very refreshing
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaEBpRWr2IA
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04.05.2011 - 19:49
Rating: 9
andreosokin
SOUNDERY
"X" - has been released on vinyl: same quality as "Paradox" - heavy vinyl with the colour insert - but this time also as a gatefold. Limited edition (hand numbered copies). Order here: www.hho-records.de www.nuclearblast.de www.millenium-records.nl or contact the manufacturer: : http://nightofthevinyldead.com


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14.06.2011 - 20:01
Rating: 10
Yugosaki

This album is pure masterpiece from start to finish !!!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaEBpRWr2IA
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18.12.2020 - 13:08
Rating: 9
majormalfunction

I was not fond of this one last time I heard it but today I found the entire record to be a real treat! I love how songwriting feels very 70's without sounding like a gimmik which in most cases it does. I usually have a slight distaste in neo-classical metal and often I found Royal Hunt to lean too much into it but here's it's just the perfect amount.
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Everything's twice as bright with money in your hands
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21.01.2021 - 22:43
Rating: 8
Mountain King
K i K o
This is an amazing album. It's original in a way and Mark's vocals sound amazing so does the music. One of their best and I will write some of my top picks: "Shadowman" "End Of The Line" "The Last Leaf" and the rest are pretty good with the exception of "Back To Square One" which is a little boring.
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