Despite being formed all the way back in 1993 by guitarist Jahn Carlini the epic metal group Great Master's latest release Lion & Queen is actually only their third full length album, that is due to periods of inactivity. Great Master are capable musicians though so are most similar sounding melodic power metal groups, as really you have to be to pull this kind of material off convincingly, and lead vocalist Max Bastasi's clean melodic style is very likeable. Lion & Queen was produced and mastered by Simone Mularoni (DGM, Empyrios) at Domination Sounds Studio, who seems to be the go to guy for so many metal groups these days. Simone Mularoni also guests on guitar as does Yackson (Shadows of Steel) and Daniele Genegu (King Wraith) on guitars, with keyboardists Andreas Wimmer (Final Chapter) and Alessandro Battini (Dark Horizon) and there is additional vocals by SY (Armonight). With dynamic tracks like the epic title number "Lion and Queen" this album isn't short on appeal, but for my money overall Lion & Queen isn't as good as Serenity's excellent Codex Atlanticus from earlier this year. Though if you can't get enough vibrant epic melodic metal then be sure to check it out as Lion & Queen really is a good album just don't expect anything game changing.
Track Listing
1. Voices
2. Another Story
3. Oldest
4. Prayer in the wind
5. Traveller of Time
6. Stargate
7. Mystic River
8. Holy Mountains
9. Time After Time
10. The Other Side
11. Walking on the Rainbow
12. Lion and Queen