Maximum Metal Rating Legend

ReinXeed Majestic Company: Liljegren Records Release: 2010 Genre: Power Reviewer: Chris Kincaid

It's easy to get lost in these songs

It's been said that ReinXeed is a Christian Metal band. That may be true and there are some who will hold that against them. But on their 3rd studio album even those who are non fans would find it hard to overlook this Swedish Power Metal band whose sound would appeal to fans of either Stratovarius, Symphony X or even prog rockers Pagan's Mind. Majestic is a dizzying array of double kicks set against soaring pipes, neo-classical styled solos that would make Yngwie's mouth water, and some sweet keyboard arrangements and of course smooth, but huge, group harmonies.

It's a mixture that layers nicely with songs that lyrically deliver a divine or spiritual message, yet unlike other bands it doesn't proceed to beat one over the head with how great God is. I think that was more of the case with their 2 previous efforts 2008's debut "Light" and 2009's "Higher". In fact this time around the lyrical content feels overshadowed by their bombastic blend. Here it's more subtle as if it were telling a story of legendary proportions rather than come across as preachy. The songs are epic, carrying the listener away on an adventure across sweeping vistas and deep into spiralling, mental labyrinths. I'm not kidding! It's easy to get lost in these songs even when the tracks fit snugly into the 5 min mark with only a few like 'Lightning Strikes Again' (Not to be confused with the Dokken track) and the opener 'Deep Under Sea' being a tad shade longer.

To break the album up and giving it a breath of fresh air are a couple songs where ReinXeed even flexes some mid tempo muscle--'Never Lie' and the title track 'Majestic'. While most of the tracks are enough to leave one speechless 'Second Chance' just doesn't match up to the other 11 tracks featured here. But out of all of them it's the only one I would single out as a weak track. The rest of the album is strong and flawless in every sense of the word.

For a Christian album it might surprise some to hear it definitely gets 2 horns up!