MOVING TARGET

Moving Target isn't just the best of the seven or eight Royal Hunt albums I own. It's also one of the top twnty albums in my extensive collection.

Danish progressive metal band, Royal Hunt is not really unheralded nor obscure but they certainly are underrated. Royal Hunt plays a melodic type of progressive metal of mostly medium to fast tempo. They have a large sometimes bombastic sound that is unique in the progressive genre. Also, not necessarily unique but certainly unusual, is the heavy use of keyboards (band leader/founder, Andre Andersen is a keyboardest), which together with the american singer, D.C. Cooper, gives the band a sound slightly like a progressive version of ASIA, a popular band of the 70s & 80s. D.C. Cooper subsequently left Royal Hunt after this release to pursue a solo career(his first solo release self-titled D.C. Cooper is very good). Subsequent Royal Hunt releases, also very good, have a capable replacement in John West.

Royal Hunt, while technically not superior to many of their better known contemporaries, such as Stratovarius or Symphony X, I find their music to be more, shall we say, user friendly. While I applaud the latter bands for their musicianship, Royal Hunt seems to be smoother, less jarring and the songwriting, I think, is superior and therefore easier to listen to.

I've had this CD for about three years, so I may not sound as enthusiastic as if I had just gotten it two weeks ago, instead of two years ago but I assure you this is a very, very solid album. This particular release has 15 songs and they are all top shelf. My favorite song by Royal Hunt is Fear on the Fear album but the overall quality of this album is better. Outstanding songs on this album are Time, Epilogue, Last Goodbye, 1348 and all the rest.

Royal Hunt seem to have a loyal but limited following here in the states. This is a shame because, as mentioned, they are at least as good as all of their better known contemporaries such as Rhapsody, Stratovarius,Symphony X and Dream Theater.

Telling you about Royal Hunt isn't the same thing as hearing them for yourself. If you trust me, buy this album or Paradox, or Fear, or Mission, or Watchers, you won't be disappointed, or find some way to hear one of them first, then buy one of them.

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