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This
is the second instalment of Mr Hughes rock opera based on the Arthurian
legend, as with part 1 he puts all of his heart and soul into something
that so obviously means a lot to him. With a vast array of vocal talents
to help him bring this project to life, including the likes of Bob
Catley, Sean Harris, Lana Lane, Harry Hess, DC Cooper and others.
‘Kill The King’ has DC Cooper on vocals and is the perfect opener to
the album as it carries on from Part 1 so well. It does not differ too
much from it but also keeps up the momentum. With its heavy keyboards
from the start and a memorable chorus, the up tempo feel throughout the
track is in total contrast to the second track ‘Thereby The Grace Of
The Gods (Go I)’. This sees Gary Hughes himself taking up the gauntlet
on vocals where he delivers with his usual finesse and backs up the
heavy bass lines so well with the insertion of a heavy guitar. It really
is a joy to listen to. Then when you are racing ahead in your mind the
next track ‘I Still Love You (I Still Do)’, brings you back down to
earth gently with it’s almost pop like sound that still fits in well
with the rest of the album.
‘Oceans Of Tears’ has Lana Lane delivering a fine melodic rock type
vocal to the track and is for me one of the highlights of the whole
album. The next track ‘Rise From The Shadows’ is as far away from
the last track as you can get. Here we hear Irene Jansen return from
part 1 to deliver some of the most powerful vocals on the whole album
with a more rock orientated up tempo beat.
‘Believe Enough To Fight’ features the haunting vocals of Sabine
Edelsbacher who is joined by Bob Catley on a track that is not an
altogether trade mark Gary Hughes song, and they do it justice as they
both seem to combine well in a way that really makes this track stand
out on the album.
‘The Hard Way’ features the vocal talent of Dougie White on another
track that steers away from the style of song writing you normally
associate with Gary Hughes. It is a credit to his musical ability to not
make this project a Ten album with other people doing
the vocals.
‘The Pagan Dream’ is another track featuring Sabine Edelsbacher
although I would have to say that although it is not as strong as her
previous track, it still has it’s place on the album. ‘Demons
Down’ sees Dougie White deliver another flawless performance and is my
favourite track on the album.
‘DEIUS’ – the 90 second instrumental is just the segway track into
‘Without You’ that has Diamond Heads Sean Harris taking up the
vocals on a track that is very reminiscent of tracks off Diamond Heads
classic Cathedral album and that is probably how Gary Hughes wanted it
to be.
The final track features Harem Scarem’s Harry Hess, ‘One And Future
King’. Its 7 minutes of melodic bliss with it’s gradual build up to
a crescendo of guitar and drums. A very fitting end to a superb album,
especially if you play both parts back to back. A must to get if you
want to feel the full impact of what Gary Hughes had in mind at the
beginning of the project.
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