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Blaze Of Rage

    
       
       
       
     
             
Magic Kingdom are a power metal band from Belgium formed in 1998 who've released six albums to date - 'The Arrival' (1999), 'Metallic Tragedy' (2004), 'Symphony Of War' (2010), 'Savage Requiem' (2015), 'MetAlmighty' (2019), and 'Blaze Of Rage' (2024).    
             
Founded by guitarist Dushan Petrossi (Iron Mask), the bands current line-up is completed by vocalist Michael Vescera (Dramatica, Vescera, ex Loudness), bass player Vassili Moltchanov (Iron Mask), and drummer Gabriel Deschamps (Cyclone), with additional vocals provided by Roma Siadletsky (the harsh ones) - the bands new album sixty five minutes and twelve songs spanning the power, symphonic and traditional metal genres. 'Blaze Of Rage' is a concept album featuring the "sophistication of classical, clever arranged music with the power of the best aggressive and melodic metal" - and after spending four years fine tuning and changing parts, Magic Kingdom have created a monster of album to rank alongside the albums from bands such as Empires Of Eden, Marco Garau's Magic Opera, Rhapsody Of Fire, and Sonata Arctica.    
             
Story wise, 'Blaze Of Rage' tells a tale of "the damned souls, locked between heaven and the deepest hell, starting a rebellion and coming back to Earth led by their doomed king to start an invasion of the Magic Kingdom" - the album a stunning "journey through a magical realm and an epic fantasy world full of legends and myths that will speak right to your heart". So that's everything you need to know about the players and the story - it's time to pop the CD into the player, grab some light snacks and a bottle or two of your favourite tipple, sit back and enjoy the performance about to unfold as Magic Kingdom set the scene with the three minute instrumental intro 'Sanctus Maleficus'.    
             
And from there, the jaw dropping music on show is sensational, 'Blaze Of Rage' a masterpiece of orchestration for every fan of power, symphonic and traditional metal - Magic Kingdom raising the bar when it comes to dramatic storytelling that transports the listener into the story unfolding before their very eyes, err I think that should be ears! Either way, the passion and drive oozing from the album is all conquering and will keep everyone riveted to the album for its entire sixty five minute duration - it's almost like being at the local cinema to watch a blockbuster movie that you totally immerse yourself in to become a part of the story on screen!    
             
But, 'Blaze Of Rage' is a much better experience than that - no-one else is around to block your view or talk over the best parts, you can listen to the album at what ever volume you prefer (extremely loud would be my suggestion), and you don't even have to get dressed as you're not even going out to a venue! So listening at home surrounded by all your creature comforts is surely sheer bliss, although if the band do tour this album, you'd better be as quick as a flash in reserving tickets as I'm sure the demand for them is gonna be extremely high!    
             
The variation in songs on offer is incredible, from fast paced head bangers to mighty majestic mid tempo swaggers with more elegance than a piece of priceless antique jewellery or world famous pieces of art such as paintings and sculptures - there's something here for every power, symphonic and traditional metal lover on the planet! And when you consider there's over 8 billion people around the world, the Magic Kingdom fanbase is gonna be fucking huge! Just imagine the size of venues the band will have to play to accommodate such huge audiences! How about the Amazon Basin? It's over 2.6 million square miles and home to over 30 million people - so if they could all just move out for a few days, Magic Kingdom could move in and perform some of the biggest concerts ever! And just imagine the sound system you'd need!    
             
The centrepiece of the album surely has to be the nine minute long 'The Great Retribution', featuring everything the band have in their vast arsenal and a tonne more too! There's superb orchestrations, a level of tension so empathic your spine is gonna tingle all the way from the top to the very bottom, and a wide array of vocal styles provided by two additional singers - soprano Geraldine Gadaut and tenor Riccardo Cecchi. Simply sensational stuff! If there's only one album you're gonna listen to this year, make it 'Blaze Of Rage' from Belgium's Magic Kingdom - I guarantee you'll not be disappointed.    
             
Overall, an immensely grand journey of superb power come symphonic come traditional metal, 'Blaze Of Rage' is a stunning hour of incredible elegance.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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