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Thy Majestie: ShiHuangDi

Melodic/Power Metal

4.0/5.0

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Scarlet Records
by Craig Hartranft,  09.21.2012

Italian power metal band Thy Majestie are back home with their long time label, Scarlet Records, for the release of their sixth album, ShiHuangDi. The band also returns to their historical concept album format. ShiHuangDi concerns the life of the legendary Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC.

Thy Majestie: back from the Great Wall.

As for the music, nothing has changed for Thy Majestie: expect extravagant, melodic, and symphonic power metal. What has always set TM apart was the ability to balance all instruments in the arrangements, especially guitar and keyboard solos. After this, the also add some progressive metal nuances, without being over technical.

You can hear both these characteristics in Walls of the Emperor, Under the Same Sky, Farewell, all the center of the album, and then in Ephemeral, some of the best material here. Not that Thy Majestie needs any more Italian power metal street cred, but they do enlist vocal powerhouse Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire, Vision Divine, Kamelot) for End of Days, another fine song.

Considering the breadth of classic European power metal bands circulating the continent, it's good to hear Thy Majestie, one of the Italian masters, back in fine form once more. ShiHuangDi delivers the goods. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Considering the breadth of classic European power metal bands circulating the continent, it's good to hear Thy Majestie, one of the Italian masters, back in fine form once more. ShiHuangDi delivers the goods.

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