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Шведская power-metal формация приятно удивила меня своим вторым альбомом, который, ко всему прочему, еще и концептуален. История, рассказанная в нем просто, и я бы даже сказал, схематична. Никаких лишних имён, топонимов и всего прочего, что так перегружает многие пластинки коллег Nostradameus по стилю. Именно эта сдержанность и схематичность повествования несколько смывают fantasy- налёт, который, порой, очень мешает некоторым музыкантам сосредоточиться на музыке, а не на сказочках.
В одном далёком-далёком королевстве жил да был король. У короля был сын - принц. Короля любили и почитали его подданные, народ слагал о нём сказания и т.д. - идиллия, одним словом. Однако у короля был советник - злой и мстительный человек, ещё и колдун к тому же. Он постоянно изрекал злые пророчества, и, таким образом, окончательно подчинил себе безвольного властителя. Короля, конечно же, отравили, подсыпав ему в кубок с вином яд, и он отдал богу душу, не успев сделать последних распоряжений насчёт трона. Подозрения в убийстве падают на сына короля, и того сажают в казематы. Но принц-то знает, кто на самом деле убивец... Проклятый ПРОРОК ЗЛА подстроил смерть короля и устранил единственного наследника на трон, чтобы самому править некогда замечательной страной. Поэтому принц решает во что бы то ни стало отомстить проклятому предателю. А как он это будет осуществлять, как сбежит из темницы - вот об этом я не расскажу. Должна же оставаться хоть какая-то интрига для тех, кто решится послушать эту, в общем, очень неплохую пластинку...
Музыка, которую исповедуют ребята из Nostradameus, имеет два главных, определяющих отношение к ней народа, свойства. Музыка записана качественно и безупречно; она совершенно не претендует на оригинальность. Со стилистической точки зрения это гитарно-ориентированный пауэр; на альбоме, в основном, преобладают быстрые композиции. Есть одна не очень плохая баллада, которая, по крайней мере, не раздражает. Клавиши появляются только в последней песне, да и то в достаточно примитивном виде.
Мелодии, хотя и не блещут оригинальностью и отдалённо напоминают лучшие творения корифеев жанра, не вязнут в зубах после первого прослушивания и, что самое главное, запоминаются. После начала первой песни сразу становится понятно - ребята играют с душой ту музыку, которая им нравится, и ту музыку, которую они умеют играть очень хорошо.
Отдельно хочется отметить работу дуэта гитаристов – весь альбом пропитан мелодичными соло и драйвовыми риффами. Вокалист не претендует на лавры Рассела Аллена или Йорна Ланде - такой средний "павер-крикун", с достаточно высоким, но не раздражающим своей писклявостью вокалом.
Достаточно интересным мне показался заключительный трек The Final Battle. В отличие от предшествующих песен, эта композиция длится 11 с лишним минут. И уверяю вас, слушать её не только не скучно, но даже интересно! Я будто читал интересную книгу - так было любопытно, каким же способом наш доблестный главный герой расправится со злым волшебником. Кстати, текстов на бумаге я не читал - поёт вокалист достаточно понятно, чтобы уследить за сюжетом повествования. С музыкальной точки зрения этот трек тоже выделяется. Здесь музыканты добавляют небольшой элемент "прогрессивности" своей музыке, и, вообще, показывают на что они на самом деле способны. Только в конце 11минутного эпика ребята будто бы отодвигают на задний план своё повествование о героях и злодеях, и кричат - The Prophets Of Metal, Forever Standing Strong, возвращая слушателя в реальный мир.
В итоге мы получаем обычную павер-легенду с незамысловатым сюжетом, но с интересным его раскрытием. Может быть, немного сопливая история, подкреплённая мелодичной и быстрой музыкой, которая так не нравится многим искателям правды и оригинальности в металле, придётся по нраву и вам - так же, как она понравилась мне! Всем любителям павера очень советую послушать этот альбом.
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2. Hymn To Theese Lands
[Narrator:]
Still I remember a time, many years ago
They lived in a foreign land, and dwelled there evermore
The rivers were running fast, and birds they sang their songs
Ancient rocks were breething life and lust
[Inhabitants:]
(The) State in our hearts, of everlasting peace
With beautiful landscapes in our arms embraced
Together we sing our hymn to this land
The future of thy soul is in our hands
[Narrator:]
The king was a man we loved, the wisest of them all
He also had a son, inheritor of the crown
In years that would come, he would be the king
But sometimes life plays tricks on you and me
[Inhabitants:]
[Chorus]
[Solo Jake / Michael / Jake / Michael]
The rivers are running fast, and birds they sings their songs
Ancient rocks are breething life and lust
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
3. Evil Prophecies
[Narrator:]
In the royal court there was an evil man, telling prophecies
He was the advisor to the naive king who was poisoned with his lies
Ruler of (the) kingdom was really this man, making future plans
Infecting the king with his sweet sounding voice, but heart as cold as ice
Evil prophecies- Always fooling the king
Evil prophecies- Breething chaos and war
Evil prophecies- He invents them himself
Evil prophecies- To destroy the fine land in our hearts
[Hister:]
I am a wizard
I have thousand names, call me what you want
The people who think I'm a prophet of peace are calling me Hister
I will now agitate to anarchy, into civil war
To destroy the kingdom is my one great will, this will be for real
[Chorus]
[SOLO Both]
[Chorus]
[Inhabitants:]
[Chorus]
4. Murder
[Narrator:]
Deep in the chambers where time's standing still
There's mixtures and potions for all of his needs
The prophet is glaring with eyes cold as ice
A horrible laughter escapes from his mouth
Raving in madness when fumes are inhaled
The poison is ready to fulfill his dreams
He walks to the kitchen unseen by all
The kings food is waiting,
It's not what it seems
The crystal glassclear poison pours like wine
Soon it will steal the good king's life.
Murder !
[Hister:]
Soon it will be solved, the problems I have
Get rid of the fool king who sits on his ass
The prince he means trouble, must take care of that
Maybe I'll frame him for murdering the king
When my lethal poison has taken his life
I'll place some leftovers for someone to find
I'll place it with great care in the young prince's room
When somebody finds it, the prince will be doomed
[Narrator:]
The crystal glassclear poison pours like wine...
[Solo Jake / Both / Michael / Jake / Michael / Jake]
The crystal glassclear poison poured like wine
Now it has brought the good king's life, to an end
5. Requiem (I Will Honour Thy Name)
[The prince:]
My dear father you have left us
For a better place to be
The people's tears are falling
But they still just cannot see
That Hister is so evil
He's destroying our country
It seems to be so hard to understand that you are gone
Will the future bring, your wisdom to me
Or will darkness rule the kingdom, for all eternity
You will live, in my heart
I will still remember even though we're apart
I will feel, you're there for me
As I walk the road of life you'll help me fight for what is right
I will honour thy name
[Solo Jake]
Eventhough you didn't wanted
You've left me all alone
Everybody turns against me
They believe that I'm the one
Who poisoned you, my father
You know that it's not true
Oh, I see, it was the prophet
To take the power away from you
Will the future... You will live... You will live...
6. In Prison
[The prince:]
Thrown into prison, into "Crown's inn"
I'm sitting here all alone
Already forgotten by people I loved
Surrounded by walls of stone
Goddamn you prophet for putting me here
Anguish and hate strikes my mind
Darkens my senses, tearing my soul
The rage is making me blind
I must control my hate
Don't want to be like him now
I must fight before it's too late
Our kingdom is at stake
How / Can I be free from theese dungeons of hate
I want out to face my enemy
Can I be free from theese dungeons of hate
I / want to face the one who killed the king
[Solo Michael]
Now / I have to think, how am I to get out
Out of this dreadful place
I've got to be free to clear my name
And / revenge my father's death
I must...
How can I...
[Solo Both / Both / Jake / Michael]
I must...
How can I...
How can I...
7. The Escape
[The prince:]
Through with my masterplan,
Now it's time to act
If I wait it'll be too late to save our beloved state
I have seen my only chance in my wardener
He's a corageous and good man but he has a naive mind
"Help me wardener, I'm not feeling well help me, I beg you, please, the ache is killing me"
Run quick now Soldiers hunting for me now
The time has come to take the power in my hand
To escape and save the land
Screaming loud in unreal pain.
I hope they'll hear my cries
The doctor's chamber with aid is just down the narrow hall.
Break loose fly away,
I'm running for my life
To the suburbs I set my course.
There I'll disappear.
Run quick now...
[Solo Jake / Michael / Jake]
I must sleep, can't go on,
I must charge energy
Quiet and peace in a dead end street,
I'll sleep here 'til the dawn Run quick now...
[The prophet of all times:]
Run quick now
Soldiers hunting for you now
The time has come to take the power in your hand
So act and understand
8. The Power's In Your Hand
[The prophet of all times:]
My dear sweet prince,
I've seen you in my dreams
Your rise and fall, I've seen it all,
I wonder how you feel
Now you're on the run,
your world is torn apart
Can't you see how it's meant to be?
Have faith and trust in me
I'll show you all the prophet
have seen, since the dawn of time
I'll give you strength to change the future,
to justify the crimes
Now the darkness rules our land
But the power's in your hand
Since you're lonely you are week
For the faithful you must seek
[Prince:]
Who are you to talk so strange
Who are you to tell me what I want
Who are you to call me leader
Who are you to tell me what to do
[The prophet of all times:]
I'm the one since dawn of time
I'm the one to tell you how things are
I'm the prophet of all times
I will help you find the way to go
[Solo Jake / Michael / Both]
[The prophet of all times:]
The faithful leader of the good ones is now in town
You must go see him, now, at once,
to justify the crimes
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
9. Gathering Resistance
[Captain:]
Who is coming in the dark night, who is coming in the rain
I'm captain of the loyal forces, tell me now your name
[Prince:]
I'm your prince that has been false accused of murdering the King
Lay down your weapons, listen now,
I'm telling you a thing
I'm gathering resistance to fight the evil one
Who's out there in the distance
Before the chance is gone
So come, join me now
Let us fight against the evil of the world
Come, join me now
Let us fight, against what's wrong
You know the right way to go
[Captain:]
Why should we believe in you, your words might be a lie
Why risk the souls of all my men, may I ask you why?
[Prince:]
I'm here under the blessing of the prophet of all times
So take a look into my face, you'll see it in my eyes
I'm gathering...
So come...
[Solo Michael / Jake / Both]
So come...
So come...
10. The Final Battle
[Intro solo Michael]
[The prince:]
Here we are, we stand together, fighting for what's right
We're marching on towards the palace, soon it is in sight
Does the evil prophet knows that we're coming, will he be prepared to die
Has he understand the signs that's written in the sky
The prophet of evil is standing proud and tall until the end of time
The prophet of evil he doesn't know the time is running out for him, I curse his soul
What is this, an ambush, it's a smaller unit enemies
It seems to me we are expected, I wonder how he was able to see...
As we're marching into the city I see, enemy troops on the streets facing me
Hundreds of them, thousands of them, behind them there I see:
The prophet of evil...
[Prince / The people:]
We still remember, how it used to be
In this fair land, before he came
To tear apart, he is to blame [x2]
[The prince:]
We fight, we fight, the sun shines so bright.
We fight for our brothers and for what is right
We fight, we fight, we can see the light.
Defeating the enemy before the night
Our arms are strong, we're fighting what's wrong.
Respect our opponent, we know that he's strong
See you, see me, and what we will be.
Guardians of justice, strong proud and free
Our men are fighting brave in front of me.
And I don't beleive in what I see
The evil forces seems to kneel for me.
The prophet escapes and now I see
Now I understand, they're in my command.
Get after the wiz someone says in my mind
I follow him into the palace, my home.
And suddenly I find myself all alone
But then I see, up the stairs there he is.
I'm grabbing my light-sabre, how can I miss
He's facing the wall and got nowhere to go.
I look into his eyes, I'm making this slow
Now you will pay for what you did, you see.
To my father, to my mother and to me
I stab my sabre thru his heart.
But he's laughing and his clothes just falls apart
[Solo Michael / Jesse / Michael / Michael]
[The people:]
The prophet of evil is dead and gone, defeated by the son of the crown.
The prophet of evil he will no longer lead us into misery, cursed be his soul