One of the more prolific bands out there - this new one is their 7th album in ten years. I don't know if what I'm doing here is a review or more just a call for some more Mystic Prophecy discussion on the boards. But I've had the album for a week, I'm a big fan and here are my initial thoughts.
First off, the differences. Ravenlord has a sound that's a bit more rough than the previous Mystic Prophecy releases. Heavy, obviously, real heavy. And to emphasise it, there's more mid-tempo songs this time around. Makes the band sound harder and more deliberate and evil. It's a bit dirty, too. There's vocal styles bordering on "tough guy style", angsty and shouty, which can get a bit corny, but mostly it's still clean and powerful and Lia pulls everything off pretty well here. He is trying more things on this album, definitely more versatile. There's ad-libbing everywhere, too.
The title track, Ravenlord, is the best album opener the band has had. An absolute scorcher! Pulsates with energy.
The guitar sound is this thick Black Label Society style 'brewtal' and it doesn't let up. Endless Fire and Cross of Lies both weigh a ton. Die Now has a combination of anger and speed and shouty vocals. Definitely not for those who have zero tolerance towards stuff like that and only like melodic speed metal. It's not a huge departure from old though as Mystic Prophecy always did like to visit the thrash metal side of things.
But then, with a song title of "Wings of Destiny", I was totally expecting a beautiful ballad. The intro only supported my assumption, but then BLAM! a massive riff that will punch your jaw clean off. Having said that, after a few listens it's among the dullest tracks here, just because of the repetitiveness of that pounding rhythm.
"Hollow" has an infectious melody running through it. Doesn't matter if Lia sings how he is "gonna hollow".
Damned Tonight is aggressive and heavy, but still probably has the catchiest and poppiest chorus of them all. By the way, how can you be "FOREVER damned TONIGHT"? The good thing is Lia has such great diction and power in his delivery that it doesn't really matter what he sings. Dio would be proud.
Reckoning Day is faster, more reminiscient of the older Mystic Prophecy. Thumbs up, though I feel like I've heard this before.
And then there's a cover of Ozzy's Miracle Man. I see what they are doing. Trying to appeal to Ozzy Osbourne fans looking up Gus G's former band. And why not, Zakk Wylde's guitar parts seem to fit with the existing Mystic Prophecy sound. Lia sounds odd trying to sing like Ozzy though, he does nail being both offkey and monotonous. It's like Placido Domingo trying to sound like Johnny Rotten. Whatever.
Back with the Storm is the 'bonus track', but with the album being this short, it really does count as an album track to me, at least. Just don't expect mindblowing awesomeness like with "War in the Sky", a Japanese bonus track on Never-Ending. "Storm" is a pretty generic track and after repeated listens I can still only remember the chorus (which sounds like a dozen other Mystic Prophecy choruses).
As usual, the lyrics are mediocre at best. I mean, you won't notice them being especially bad because Liapakis is so awesome, but if you try and actually listen more it's your typical angsty, redundant metal cliches (filled with malapropisms because they are German). You will find yourself pumping your fist going
"Forever be damned TONITE!, I'm gonna f'n HOLLOW!" I love that.
I mentioned album length as an issue (without the bonus track it's under 40 minutes, I think, and one of the songs is a cover!) and I don't know if this satisfies my need for new Mystic Prophecy. It's been a week and I'm starting to hope they will get a new album out soon!
Well, I guess that was all. I just read my post and I don't know if I got everything I wanted to say out. I was just writing off the top of my head. Oh well, what do you think? My thoughts are that Mystic Prophecy goes a bit more 'modern' here, and I don't think they quite reached the level of their last three albums. But it's still very good and the band is in my top ten and I love their sound and this album will definitely be right up there among my favourites of the year. That was it in two sentences.
I don't really post in this part of the boards. Am I supposed to give points? How about 1.60? That sounds like a good figure. 1.60 out of 1.65. Just kidding - I guess in comparison to similar sounding bands, I think it gets beat by the new Iced Earth and Saxon releases. It will be interesting to see how it holds up.
Subject: Mystic Prophecy - Ravenlord 
Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:18 pm
